DUKE 

UNIVERSITY 


LIBRARY 


A TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

» i 

HISTORY 

OF 

HARDIN  COUNTY 

OHIO 


A NARRATIVE  ACCOUNT  OF  ITS  HISTORICAL  PROGRESS 
ITS  PEOPLE  AND  ITS  PRINCIPAL  INTERESTS 


By  MINNIE  ICHLER  KOHLER 

OF  KENTON 


ILLUSTRATED 


VOL.  II 


THE  LEWIS  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 
CHICAGO 
1910 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2015 


https://archive.org/details/twentiethcentury21kohl 


9 7 7,  / V-  f 


W.  A.  Norton.— One  of  Kenton ’s  most  prominent  business  represen- 
tatives is  found  in  W.  A.  Norton,  the  president  of  the  Kenton  Savings 
Bank,  the  treasurer  of  the  Home  Savings  and  Loan  Company  of  Kenton, 
the  president  of  the  Kenton  Gas  and  Electric  Company  and  the  vice 
president  of  the  Kenton  Telephone  Company.  The  Home  Savings  and 
Loan  Company  is  one  of  the  substantial  concerns  of  Hardin  county,  and 
Mr.  Norton  has  been  associated  with  it  in  his  present  capacity  since  its 
organization. 

He  was  born  at  Marseilles  in  Wyandot  county,  Ohio,  December  17, 
1852,  a son  of  Anson  and  Rachel  (Hooker)  Norton,  and  through  Anson 
and  Joel  Norton,  his  grandfather  and  great-grandfather,  he  traces  de- 
scent to  Thomas  Norton  of  Saybrook,  Connecticut,  son  of  Thomas  of 
Guilford,  England,  who  with  his  wife  and  children  emigrated  to  America 
in  1639.  The  grandmother.  Lucretia  (Woodruff)  Norton,  daughter  of 
David  Woodruff,  was  descended  from  Mathew  Woodruff,  one  of  the  early 
Connecticut  colonists.  Anson  Norton,  Jr.,  born  at  Sharon  in  Litchfield 
county,  Connecticut,  moved  to  Livingston,  New  York,  in  1837,  and  ten 
years  afterward,  in  1847,  he  came  to  Marseilles,  Ohio.  He  was  a mer- 
chant during  the  greater  part  of  his  active  life.  In  1864  he  located 
with  his  family  in  Kenton,  where  he  continued  his  mercantile  interests 
for  a number  of  years,  but  finally  turned  his  attention  to  the  buying  of 
wool  and  insurance,  and  was  thus  engaged  until  his  death  on  the  14th 
of  February,  1903.  He  was  born  in  May.  1828.  and  on  the  5th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1852,  in  Marseilles,  he  had  married  Rachel  Hooker,  a daughter 
of  Henson  and  Susanah  (Young)  Hooker,  and  a granddaughter  on  the 
maternal  side  of  George  Young,  a Revolutionary  soldier  who  lived  to  the 
remarkable  age  of  one  hundred  and  six  years  and  was  then  laid  to  rest 
in  Marseilles.  His  native  state  was  Maryland.  W.  A.  was  the  first 
born  and  only  son  of  the  children  of  Anson  and  Rachel  Norton,  and  the 
four  daughters  are:  Emma  C.,  wife  of  Henry  J.  Miller,  a shoe  merchant 
in  Kenton ; Mary  A.,  wife  of  B.  F.  Schultz  of  Kenton ; Louie  Bell,  who 
became  the  wife  of  Elmer  E.  Gear  and  lived  at  Springfield.  Ohio,  until 
her  death  in  February  1891,  and  she  left  one  son,  Anson  William  Gear, 
who  resides  with  his  uncle,  W.  A.  Norton ; and  Maud,  who  died  when 
only  two  years  old. 

W.  A.  Norton  was  a lad  of  eleven  when  the  family  home  was  estab- 
lished in  Kenton,  and  thus  from  an  early  age  he  has  been  identified  with 
its  interests  and  upbuilding.  He  was  the  first  boy  to  graduate  from  the 
Kenton  public  schools,  graduating  in  the  year  of  1871,  and  then  until 
the  15th  of  July,  1878,  he  was  associated  with  his  father  in  the  dry 
goods  business.  At  that  time  he  accepted  the  assistant  cashiership  of 
the  Kenton  Savings  Bank,  while  in  1886  he  became  the  bank’s  cashier, 
and  since  1905,  has  been  its  president.  He  is  a Scottish  Rite  Mason  and 

445 


Vol.  II— 1 


446 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


a Republican  in  his  political  affiliations.  He  has  often  been  called  upon 
for  committee  work,  but  the  greater  part  of  his  time  is  devoted  to  his 
business  interests..  On  the  5th  of  December.  1905,  at  Columbus.  Ohio, 
he  was  married  to  Mrs.  Lula  Carpenter,  widow  of  Eugene  G.  Carpenter, 
formerly  of  that  city,  and  a daughter  of  Joseph  McCormick  of  Mt- 
Yernon,  Ohio. 

Dr.  II.  S.  Lehr,  a retired  educator,  of  Ada,  Ohio,  and  the  founder 
and  ex-president  of  the  Ohio  Northern  University  of  Ada,  was  born  in 
Oldtown,  Mahoning  county,  Ohio,  March  8,  1838.  He  is  a son  of  George 
and  Saloma  (Lesig)  Lehr,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  the  former  born 
in  Allentown,  in  1795.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  years  George  Lehr 
enlisted  in  the  war  of  1812,  serving  as  a lifer,  and  when  he  returned 
organized  a company  of  militia,  becoming  captain  and  later  brigadier 
general.  The  company  attended  the  memorial  exercises  of  John  Adams 
and  Thomas  Jefferson.  In  1837  they  came  to  Oldtown,  then  in  Trum- 
bull but  now  in  Mahoning  county,  Ohio,  thence  to  Stark  county  and  later 
to  Wayne  county.  In  the  last-named  county  George  Lehr  engaged  in 
weaving  and  manufacturing.  He  died  in  1873,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
nine  years.  His  father,  Ulrich  Lehr,  was  a native  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
was  a farmer.  He  enlisted  three  times  for  service  in  the  American 
revolution ; his  grandson,  Dr.  Lehr,  had  a flag  carried  by  him  in  his 
service,  which  he  presented  to  the  Ohio  Northern  University,  where  it  is 
now.  Ulrich  Lehr  carried  this  flag  at  the  battles  of  Brandywine,  Ger- 
mantown and  Monmouth,  where  he  was  slightly  wounded;  he  died  in 
Pennsylvania.  His  father  was  a soldier  in  the  German  army,  and  Dr. 
Lehr  has  a furlough  which  was  granted  during  his  service,  dated  1727. 

George  Lehr’s  wife  was  born  in  Chambersburg,  Pennsylvania,  of 
German  and  English  descent.  They  had  twelve  children,  of  whom  Dr. 
Lehr  is  the  eleventh.  His  boyhood  days  were  spent  in  Ohio,  and  he 
began  working  at  the  age  of  eight  years,  making  quills,  and  worked  on 
a farm  until  the  fall  of  1854,  when  he  began  teaching,  continuing  until 
1861,  when  he  enlisted  in  Company  E,  Fourth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry, 
but  was  rejected.  He  enlisted  a second  time  in  the  Forty-second  Ohio, 
but  was  again  rejected.  He  enlisted  in  1862  in  Company  G,  Eighty- 
sixth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  in  1864  reenlisted  in  the  One  ITfun- 
dred  and  Seventy-sixth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served  until  May 
20,  1865.  He  served  in  the  ranks  as  a private. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  Dr.  Lehr  read  medicine  about  four  months 
and  began  teaching  in  the  winter  of  1865,  in  Stark  county,  Ohio.  In  the 
spring  of  1866  he  traveled  through  the  state  in  search  of  a suitable 
location  in  which  to  establish  a school  for  the  common  people,  and  eventu- 
ally founded  what  is  now  the  Ohio  Northern  University,  although  it  has 
been  known  by  several  other  names,  the  first  institution  being  a select 
school;  it  then  became  known  at  the  Northwestern  Ohio  Normal  School, 
then  the  Ohio  Normal  University.  Dr.  Lehr  was  president  of  this  insti- 
tution until  July,  1902,  when  he  resigned,  and  has  since  assisted  in 
organizing  a number  of  schools,  although  he  has  retired  from  active  life. 

Dr.  Lehr  is  one  of  the  prominent  and  successful  educators  of  Ohio, 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


447 


and  although  he  has  retired,  his  work  is  well  remembered,  and  will  leave 
a lasting  impression.  He  installed  many  modern  methods,  and  was 
untiring  in  his  services  in  the  cause  of  education.  In  1891  he  was 
superintendent  of  public  schools  and  president  of  the  normal,  teaching 
seven  hours  a day.  The  largest  annual  enrollment  during  the  time  he 
was  at  the  head  of  the  school  was  three  thousand  three  hundred  and  forty- 
nine.  He  has  also  served  a long  time  as  superintendent  of  a Sunday 
school,  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  every  movement  for  the  public 
welfare  and  advancement.  Dr.  Lehr  is  a stanch  Republican,  and  works 
hard  in  the  interests  of  his  party.  He  claims  that  the  most  just  tax  is 
a graduated  income  tax. 

On  October  30,  1866,  Dr.  Lehr  married  Albina  Hoover,  of  Stark 
county,  Ohio,  where  she  was  reared  and  educated.  They  have  two 
daughters,  Harriet  M.  and  Sarah  L.  Dr.  Lehr  is  affiliated  with  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  and  the  Masonic  order.  He  is  one  of  the 
best  known  men  in  Ohio  in  educational  circles,  and  has  had  over  thirty- 
two  thousand  students  under  his  supervision  while  he  was  officiating  as 
president  of  the  University.  He  has  done  much  to  advance  the  cause  of 
education  in  the  state,  and  has  been  able  to  win  and  retain  the  confidence 
and  esteem  of  all  who  have  worked  with  him  or  studied  under  his 
direction.  He  is  a man  of  rare  intellectual  ability  and  high  attainments, 
whose  high  character  and  sincere  manner  have  been  generally  recognized. 
He  is  a member  of  the  Christian  church. 

Albert  G.  Ahlefeld  was  born  at  Ada.  Ohio,  .June  25,  1859,  where 
he  lived  until  about  twenty-one  years  of  age,  coming  to  Kenton  in  1888, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  He  is  the  son  of  the  late  Nathan  Ahlefeld 
and  Celia  (Wiley)  Ahlefeld,  the  former  born  in  Richland  county  Decem- 
ber 16.  1834,  and  the  latter  in  Worthington,  Ohio.  June  10.  1838. 

Reinhart  Ahlefeld  was  the  founder  of  the  family  in  America,  coming 
to  Richland  county  from  the  northern  part  of  Germany  about  1818. 
His  ancestors  were  natives  of  Denmark  who  went  to  Germany  about 
the  sixteenth  century.  Reinhart  Ahlefeld  possessed  a good  German 
education  and  was  a miller  by  trade.  In  Richland  county  he  operated 
a mill  and  also  carried  on  farming.  He  married  Phoebe  Young  of 
Richland  county  who  was  of  German  descent,  and  all  their  children 
were  born  there.  About  1849  he  moved  by  wagon  to  Allen  county, 
Ohio,  afterwards  coming  to  Hardin  county  and  settling  on  a farm  near 
Ada  where  he  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-six.  To  Reinhart  and  Phoebe 
(Young)  Ahlefeld  the  following  children  wTere  born : Christina 

Ahlefeld  Moore,  who  lived  after  her  marriage  in  Allen  county  and  died 
there  at  the  age  of  seventy-six;  Martha  Ahlefeld  Melhorn  wdio  always 
resided  in  Hardin  county  after  her  marriage  and  died  several  years  ago 
at  Ada  at  the  age  of  seventy-six ; Nancy  Ahlefeld  Gilbert  who  lives  in 
Burlington,  Kansas;  Sarah  Ahlefeld  Rockhill  who  lives  in  LeRoy, 
Kansas;  Nathan  Ahlefeld  who  lived  in  Ada  and  Kenton  and  died  at 
Kenton  July  9,  1902;  and  Peter  and  Jacob  Ahlefeld.  the  former  living 
in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  the  latter  in  LeRoy,  Kansas. 

Nathan  Ahlefeld  was  the  father  of  our  subject  and  he  came  to 


448 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Hardin  county  about  1849  with  his  parents  where  he  ever  afterwards 
resided  till  his  death.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and 
began  his  business  career  by  working  in  a store  in  Ada.  Afterwards 
he  became  a merchant,  and  also  dealt  in  real  estate  and  carried  on  farm- 
ing. Nathan  Ahlefeld  was  an  active,  enterprising,  shrewd  business 
man  who  was  identified  with  many  enterprises.  His  active  mind  seemed 
to  grasp  quickly  the  possibilities  of  any  plan,  and  all  his  life  he  was 
singularly  successful  in  his  many  undertakings.  Solely  by  his  own 
efforts  he  built  up  a comfortable  fortune,  and  until  the  day  of  his  death 
was  interested  in  everything  that  helped  the  welfare  of  his  native  county. 
Though  an  ardent  Democrat  Mr.  Ahlefeld  did  not  aspire  to  hold  office, 
serving  his  county  but  once  in  public  capacity,  that  of  county  auditor 
in  1871.  Governor  James  E.  Campbell  appointed  him  a member  of  the 
board  of  managers  of  the  Ohio  Penitentiary  during  his  term  of  office,  and 
Mr.  Ahlefeld  attended  to  the  duties  of  this  office,  as  he  did  everything  else 
in  his  business  career,  well  and  faithfully.  He  moved  to  Kenton  in 
1881  and  thereafter  was  a prime  mover  in  many  of  the  county  seat’s  most 
prominent  industries.  He  was  married  in  Worthington,  Ohio,  June  18, 
1856,  to  Miss  Celia  E.  Wiley,  and  to  them  the  following  children  were 
born:  Ida  Ahlefeld,  who  married  J.  F.  Andrews  and  lives  in  Kenton, 

Ohio;  Albert  G.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Effie  L.  Ahlefeld,  who 
married  J.  B.  Andrews  and  lives  in  Goshen,  Indiana;  Anna  who  died 
at  Ada,  Ohio,  aged  two  years;  and  C-orrinne  Ahlefeld  who  is  the  wife  of 
Curran  Flanagan  the  editor  of  the  Kenton  Democrat.  Mrs.  Celia 
(Wiley)  Ahlefeld  is  of  Welsh  descent,  the  founder  of  her  family  in 
America  being  Samuel  Wiley  who  moved  from  Wales  to  Snowhill, 
Maryland  about,  the  year  1765  and  became  a Revolutionary  soldier. 
His  wife  was  of  Spanish  descent  and  they  had  several  children.  One  of 
these.  Dr.  Isaac  Wiley,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Ahlefeld,  located  in  Worthing- 
ton, Ohio,  and  there  practiced  his  profession  many  years.  Dr.  Isaac 
Wiley  married  Eliza  Lewis  in  Worthington,  Ohio.  He  died  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty-two  at  the  residence  of  his  son-in-law,  Nathan  Ahle- 
feld, in  Ada,  Ohio.  Upon  coming  to  Kenton  Nathan  Ahlefeld  built  a 
handsome  and  substantial  residence  on  North  Detroit  street,  and  engaged 
in  farming  and  the  real  estate  and  banking  business.  He  died  July  9, 
1902.  His  widow  survives,  and  lives  in  the  homestead  with  her  daughter 
Mrs.  J.  F.  Andrews. 

Albert  G.  Ahlefeld  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Ada,  and 
spent  two  years  at  the  Brothers’  School,  a Catholic  Institution  of  Dayton, 
Ohio.  For  some  years  he  engaged  in  farming  near  Ada,  but  afterwards 
moved  to  Kenton  where  he  now  has  many  business  interests.  He  was 
associated  with  his  father  in  the  real  estate  business  during  the  life  of 
the  latter,  and  now  conducts  a loan  and  real  estate  office  in  partnership 
with  Mr.  J.  F.  Andrews.  Under  the  second  administration  of  Cleve- 
land he  was  postmaster  of  Kenton,  and  this  is  the  only  office  to  which  he 
has  ever  aspired,  though  an  active  Democrat  and  interested  in  local 
and  national  political  issues.  He  was  appointed  postmaster  April  1, 
1894  and  served  four  years  in  this  capacity.  In  1904  he  helped  organize 
the  Crystal  Ice  and  Cold  Storage  Company,  one  of  the  most  flourishing 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


449 


of  Kenton’s  enterprises,  and  is  at  present  vice  president  of  the  company 
and  one  of  the  directors.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Scioto 
Sign  Company  and  was  for  some  years  a director  in  this  concern.  In 
July,  1904  he  helped  organize  the  Commercial  Bank  of  Kenton  and  he 
is  now  vice  president  of  this  institution  and  one  of  the  directors.  In  the 
same  year  that  the  bank  was  organized  he  built  the  handsome,  pressed 
brick  building  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Detroit  and  Franklin  streets 
which  bears  his  name  and  in  which  his  offices  are  located.  In  1905  and 
1906  he  was  president  of  the  Kenton  Commercial  Club,  and  has  always 
been  interested  in  everything  that  pertains  to  the  advancement  of 
Kenton.  And  all  the  time  he  has  been  engaged  in  farming,  owning 
large  holdings  in  real  estate  in  Hardin  county. 

Albert  G.  Ahlefeld  was  married  in  Kenton,  Ohio,  September  18, 
1884,  to  Florence  Ries,  daughter  of  John  and  Katherine  (Ichler)  Ries. 
Mrs.  Ahlefeld  is  a graduate  of  the  Kenton  public  schools.  Mr.  and 

Mrs.  Ahlefeld  have  two  children : Katherine  and  Allan  N.  Another 

son,  Nathan,  was  born  August  25,  1887,  and  died  April  28,  1892,  at 
Kenton,  Ohio.  Miss  Katherine  Ahlefeld  was  educated  in  the  Kenton 
public  schools  and  spent  three  years  at  Notre  Dame,  Indiana,  a cele- 
brated school  for  young  ladies.  She  also  studied  music  in  Philadelphia 
and  Washington  D.  C.,  spending  a year  in  each  of  these  cities.  Master 
Allan  Neal  is  a student  in  the  public  schools  of  Kenton  at  present.  Miss 
Katherine  is  a member  of  the  English  Lutheran  church.  Mrs.  Ahlefeld 
is  connected  with  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Kenton,  and 
the  family  is  prominent  in  social  circles.  Mr.  Ahlefeld  is  a thirty- 
second  degree  Mason  and  an  Elk.  He  and  his  family  live  in  a beautiful 
modern  residence  on  North  Detroit  street  and  are  among  the  most 
prominent  of  the  city’s  influential  and  respected  residents. 

General  James  Sidney  Robinson,  who  died  at  his  home  in  the  city 
of  Kenton,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  on  the  14th  of  January,  1892,  was  a 
member  of  one  of  the  old  and  honored  pioneer  families  of  this  section  of 
the  Buckeye  state  and  he  was  of  distinctive  prominence  in  his  connection 
with  public  and  civic  affairs  in  his  native  commonwealth.  He  was  a 
valiant  soldier  of  the  Union  during  the  Civil  war,  in  which  he  rose  to 
distinguished  official  preferment,  and  few  men  of  the  state  were  better 
known  or  more  highly  honored.  He  represented  Ohio  in  congress  and 
held  other  positions  of  trust  and  responsibility.  His  entire  life  was 
guided  and  governed  by  the  highest  principles  and  his  career  was  one 
that  reflected  honor  upon  the  state  and  the  nation. 

General  Robinson  was  born  in  Franklin  township,  Richland  county, 
Ohio,  near  the  present  city  of  Mansfield,  on  the  14th  of  October,  1827, 
and  was  the  youngest  of  the  four  sons  of  Francis  and  Jane  (Dickens) 
Robinson,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  England.  His  parents  came 
to  Ohio  and  took  up  their  residence  in  Franklin  township,  Richland 
county,  in  1817,  and  his  father  became  one  of  the  initial  pioneers  and 
substantial  farmers  of  that  county.  The  General  was  reared  to  the 
sturdy  and  invigorating  discipline  of  the  pioneer  farm  and  early  began 
to  contribute  his  quota  to  its  reclamation  and  development.  His  specific 


450 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


educational  advantages  were  limited  to  the  common  schools  of  the  locality 
and  period,  but  with  an  alert  and  receptive  mind  he  profited  largely 
through  self-discipline,  including  a wide  range  of  effective  reading,  and 
became  a man  of  bright  mental  ken.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  years 
General  Robinson  entered  the  office  of  the  Richland  Bugle , where  he 
gained  his  initial  knowledge  of  the  “art  preservative  of  all  arts.”  It 
has  well  been  said  that  the  training  of  a newspaper  office  is  equivalent 
to  a liberal  education,  and  the  career  of  General  Robinson  would  seem 
to  authorize  fully  this  statement.  In  December,  1844,  he  entered  upon 
an  active  apprenticeship  in  the  office  of  the  Mansfield  Jeffersonian, 
whose  title  was  later  changed  to  the  Mansfield  Herald.  There  he 
delved  into  the  mysteries  of  the  printing  business  and  familiarized 
himself  with  the  intricacies  of  the  same.  In  June,  1846,  he  left  the 
office  of  the  Jeffersonian  and  moved  to  Tiffin,  Seneca  county,  where  he 
became  identified  with  the  Seneca  Whig.  His  connection  therewith, 
however,  was  destined  to  be  of  short  duration. 

In  1844  a number  of  sturdy  pioneer  Whigs  of  Hardin  county  pur- 
chased a printing  press  in  Cincinnati  and,  establishing  the  plant  in 
Kenton,  they  became  the  publishers  of  a paper  through  which  they 
exploited  the  cause  of  the  Whig  party.  Like  many  another  venture 
enlisting  the  co-operation  of  many  men  of  as  many  different  opinions, 
this  enterprise  did  not  prove  a success.  The  paper  was  styled  the 
Weekly  News  and  its  existence  was  turbulent  and  precarious  for  some 
time,  owing  to  the  owners  becoming  dissatisfied  with  the  management 
of  the  business.  They  finally  gained  the  information  that  connected 
with  a paper  in  Seneca  county  was  an  independent  and  aggressive  young 
exponent  of  the  principles  of  the  Whig  party  who  had  made  a record 
which  could  not  but  beget  objective  confidence.  In  canvassing  the 
situation  and  endeavoring  to  provide  for  the  successful  continuance  of 
their  newspaper  venture,  the  owners  of  the  same  property  wrote  to 
General  Robinson  and  tendered  him  the  management  of  the  business. 
Thus  it  was  that  shortly  after  Christmas  of  the  year  1846  General  Robin- 
son came  to  Kenton  and  established  his  permanent  home  in  Hardin 
county.  With  careful  circumspection  he  viewed  the  field  of  his  future 
labor,  placed  the  equipment  of  the  office  in  proper  condition  and  changed 
the  name  of  the  paper  to  the  Kenton  Republican  of  which  he  thus  virtu- 
ally was  the  founder.  The  initial  edition  of  the  paper  was  issued  on 
Wednesday,  the  20th  of  January,  1847,  and  in  its  editorial  colums  was 
defined  carefully  the  policy  under  which  it  was  to  be  continued.  It 
advocated  the  principles  of  the  Whig  party  and  its  motto  had  a signifi- 
cant ring,  being  as  follows:  “Be  just,  and  fear  not.”  General  Robin- 
son soon  made  the  Republican  an  effective  exponent  of  the  Whig  cause 
as  well  as  of  local  interests.  He  was  indefatigable  in  his  labors  both  as 
a writer  and  in  the  management  of  the  technical  details  of  the  office,  and 
even  in  these  early  years  showed  his  wonderful  command  of  terse  and 
vigorous  English  and  also  a broad  and  well-forfeited  view  of  public 
affairs.  He  soon  became  sole  owner  and  editor  of  the  paper  and 
enlarged  it  to  twenty-four  columns.  It  continued  to  exert  potent  in- 
fluence in  this  section  of  the  state  under  his  effective  control  until  the 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


451 


inception  of  the  Civil  war.  When  the  Rebel  guns  thundered  against  the 
ramparts  of  old  Fort  Sumter,  the  altruistic  patriotism  of  the  young 
editor  was  aroused  to  responsive  protest  and  he  was  among  the  first  to 
respond  to  President  Lincoln’s  call  for  volunteers.  However,  he  con- 
tinued proprietor  of  the  Hardin  county  Republican  until  the  16th  of 
September,  1864,  when  the  plant  and  business  were  sold  to  L.  T.  Hunt. 

There  is  much  of  interest  attached  to  the  brilliant  and  loyal  career 
of  General  Robinson  as  a volunteer  soldier  of  the  republic.  On  the  19th 
of  April,  1861,  he  enlisted  as  a private  in  the  Fourth  Ohio  Volunteer 
Infantry  and  was  chosen  as  lieutenant  of  Company  G,  of  which  he  later 
became  captain.  It  was  his  to  live  up  to  the  full  tension  of  the  great 
internecine  conflict  between  the  north  and  south,  and  he  participated 
in  many  of  the  most  memorable  engagements  marking  the  progress  of  the 
war.  General  McClellan  commended  him  for  meritorious  service  at 
Ridge  Mountain,  and  he  was  appointed  major  of  the  Eighty-second  Ohio 
Volunteer  Infantry,  later  being  promoted  in  turn  to  the  office  of  lieu- 
tenant-colonel and  colonel.  In  December,  1864,  he  was  raised  to  the 
brevet  rank  of  brigadier  general,  and  in  January  of  the  following  year 
he  received  regular  commission  in  this  rank.  In  the  following  March 
he  was  breveted  major  general.  These  statements  bear  their  own 
significance  indicating,  as  they  do,  the  effective  service  rendered  by 
him  as  an  officer  and  his  advancement  was  the  diametric  result  of  gallant 
and  meritorious  conduct  on  the  field.  General  Robinson  took  an  active 
part  in  the  operations  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley  of  Virginia  under 
General  Fremont,  urns  in  General  Pope’s  disastrous  campaign,  including 
the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run  and  with  his  command  in  the  memorable 
battles  of  Chaneellorsville  and  Gettysburg  and  in  the  campaigns  in  Geor- 
gia and  the  Carolinas.  On  the  1st  of  July,  1863,  in  the  first  day's  fight  at 
Gettysburg,  he  received  a severe  wound  in  the  left  shoulder  and  as  a 
result  of  this  injury  he  was  confined  to  the  hospital  for  a month,  after 
which  he  was  granted  a furlough  and  sent  to  his  home  in  Kenton,  where 
he  lay  in  a critical  condition  for  several  months.  Upon  recuperating 
his  physical  energies,  General  Robinson  returned  to  the  front  and  parti- 
cipated with  his  regiment  in  the  battles  of  Cross  Keys,  Resaca,  Ridge 
Mountain,  Dallas,  Peac-h  Tree  Creek,  New  Hope  Church,  Culp’s  Farm, 
Averysboro  and  Bentonville.  He  was  with  Sherman  on  the  historic 
and  triumphant  march  from  Atlanta  to  the  sea  and  finally  proceeded 
with  the  victorious  forces  to  the  city  of  Washington,  where  he  took  part 
in  the  Grand  Review  at  the  close  of  the  war.  In  later  years  it  was  a 
matter  of  pleasure  and  satisfaction  to  General  Robinson  that  he  was 
called  upon  to  serve  as  president  of  the  Ohio  Commission  that  erected 
monuments  to  the  soldier  dead  of  this  city  on  the  battlefield  of  Gettys- 
burg. General  Robinson  ever  retained  a deep  interest  in  his  old 
comrades  in  arms  and  was  a prominent  and  honored  member  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  as  well  as  of  the  military  order  of  the 
Loyal  Legion  of  the  United  States. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  General  Robinson  retired  to  Kenton,  and 
here  his  principal  business  interests  thereafter  were  those  of  real  estate. 
The  following  appreciative  statements  concerning  the  distinguished 


452 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


subject  of  this  memoir  were  written  by  one  familiar  with  his  career  and 
are  well  worthy  of  reproduction  in  this  connection:  “Not  alone  as  a 

soldier  and  as  a public  official  did  General  Robinson  serve  his  people. 
In  civil  life  he  was  ever  among  the  first  to  assist  worthy  public  enter- 
prises. His  guiding  and  helping  hand  was  found  in  the  promotion  of 
all  measures  that  enhance  the  general  welfare.  Our  railroads,  pikes, 
ditches,  public  buildings,  schools  and  churches  all  received  his  encourage- 
ment and  aid.  He  was  indefatigable  in  his  efforts  to  secure  an  east 
and  west  railroad  for  Kenton.  Finally  when  the  Chicago  & Atlantic 
Railroad,  now  a portion  of  the  Chicago  and  Erie,  came  to  be  built,  he 
was  one  of  the  contractors  for  the  construction  of  this  line  between 
Kenton  and  Marion.  He  ever  displayed  an  active  interest  in  all 
affairs  of  the  city  and  county  and  was  always  especially  zealous  in  the 
promotion  of  farming  interests. 

At  this  juncture  we  shall  turn  briefly  to  the  career  of  General 
Robinson  as  a public  official,  though  the  limitations  of  this  article 
render  impossible  a detailed  mention  of  the  manifold  services  he  rendered 
in  this  field.  It  may  be  said  that  his  political  and  civil  career  was  no 
less  successful  and  brilliant  than  were  his  military  exploits  in  defense  of 
the  integrity  of  the  Union,  and  higher  praise  than  this  it  is  hardly 
possible  to  extend.  Originally  aligned  as  a stanch  supporter  of  the 
cause  of  the  old  Whig  party,  he  naturally  transferred  his  allegiance  to 
the  Republican  party,  of  which  lie  became  a member  at  the  time  of  its 
organization  and  it  is  a matter  of  historical  record  that  he  served  as 
secretary  of  the  first  state  convention  held  by  that  party  in  Ohio.  He 
was  one  of  the  most  effective  exponents  of  the  party  cause  in  his  home 
state  and  his  services  were  much  in  demand  as  a campaign  speaker  in 
Ohio  and  other  states  of  the  union.  As  a public  speaker  he  had  marked 
facility  in  the  use  of  forcible  and  effective  diction,  was  thoroughly 
fortified  in  his  opinions  and  marshalled  his  arguments  with  masterful 
skill,  so  that  he  always  was  able  to  hold  the  attention  of  his  audience 
and  to  impress  upon  it  the  cogency  of  his  opinions  and  theories.  He 
gained  a reputation  as  one  of  the  most  effective  campaign  speakers  of 
his  day. 

General  Robinson  served  as  clerk  of  the  Ohio  House  of  Representa- 
tives in  1855-6,  and  after  his  return  from  the  war  he  received  the 
appointment  of  assessor  of  internal  revenue,  of  which  office  he  continued 
the  incumbent  for  several  years.  He  was  for  some  time  chairman  of 
the  Republican  State  Central  Committee  and  later  was  chairman  of  the 
Republican  State  Executive  Committee.  He  filled  the  position  of 
railroad  commissioner  for  Ohio  from  January,  1880,  to  February  of  the 
following  year.  In  1880  there  came  to  General  Robinson  well  merited 
recognition  of  his  party  loyalty  and  zeal  and  of  his  distinctive  ability,  in 
that  he  was  elected  to  represent  the  old  Ninth  District  of  Ohio  in 
congress.  This  district  comprised  the  counties  of  Hardin,  Union, 
Morrow,  Marion,  Knox  and  Delaware.  His  first  term  in  congress 
remarkably  demonstrated  the  wisdom  of  his  choice  for  this  important 
office.  In  1882  he  was  chosen  as  his  own  successor.  He  had  the  dis- 
tinction of  being  the  only  man  from  Hardin  county  ever  elected  to  sit 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


453 


in  congress.  The  official  records  of  Ohio  show  that  General  Robinson 
also  gave  effective  service  as  secretary  of  state,  to  which  position  he 
was  twice  elected.  Concerning  his  public  service,  the  following  perti- 
nent statement  has  been  made : ‘ ‘ He  discharged  all  these  trusts  with  rare 
fidelity  and  ability  and  demonstrated  his  fitness  for  even  a higher  station. 
His  congressional  career  was  of  great  value  to  his  constituents  and  his 
Virginia  military  land  bill  won  for  him  a national  reputation.  He  was 
at  all  times  a zealous  champion  of  the  farm  and  was  ever  loyal  in  pro- 
tecting the  interests  of  the  old  soldiers  of  the  rebellion.’’  He  affiliated 
with  the  Episcopal  church. 

On  the  28th  of  June,  1848,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  General 
Robinson  to  Miss  Helen  M.  Spaulding  of  Marion,  Ohio,  who  died  in  1853, 
leaving  one  son,  William  S.,  who  is  now  deceased.  In  the  year  1855, 
November  8,  General  Robinson  married  Miss  Hester  A.  Carlin,  daughter 
of  Honorable  Parlee  Carlin,  of  Findlay,  Ohio,  and  she  died  September 
8,  1907,  in  Kenton,  where  the  two  children,  Parlee  C.  and  Jane  S.  reside. 

Measured  by  its  beneficence,  its  reeitude,  its  productiveness  and  its 
unconscious  altruism,  the  life  of  General  Robinson  counted  for  much, 
and  he  stood  as  an  honored  member  of  the  striking  group  of  men  whose 
influence  in  the  social  and  economical  life  of  the  nation  was  of  the  most 
effective  order.  It  is  easy  to  attribute  the  elements  of  greatness  to  any 
man  who  has  been  in  the  least  conspicuous  in  public  affairs,  but  in  the 
perspective  of  years  each  presentment  assumes  its  true  value  and  an 
unequivocal  verdict  may  be  rendered.  The  fair  fame  of  General 
Robinson,  the  most  distinguished  figure  in  the  history  of  Hardin  county, 
rests  on  the  firm  basis  of  work  accomplished  and  honors  worthily  won. 
In  studying  his  clear-cut,  sane,  distinct  character,  interpretation  follows 
fact  in  a straight  line  of  derivation  and  his  character  was  a positive 
expression  of  a strong  and  loyal  nature.  When  lie  was  consigned  to 
the  life  eternal  on  the  14th  of  January,  1892,  the  people  of  his  home  city 
and  county  manifested  a deep  sense  of  personal  bereavement  and  un- 
bidden came  the  general  and  generous  tributes  of  love,  respect  and 
honor.  On  the  occasion  of  his  funeral  there  were  called  to  Kenton  more 
distinguished  men  than  were  ever  before  drawn  within  its  portals.  After 
the  religious  services  were  concluded,  the  Honorable  William  McKinley, 
who  was  then  governor  of  the  state  and  who  later  became  president  of 
the  United  States,  paid  a short  but  earnest  tribute  to  the  dead  soldier 
and  citizen  whose  loss  was  thus  deplored.  Besides  the  governor,  many 
other  prominent  men  of  the  state  were  present  at  the  funeral.  The 
words  of  Governor  McKinley  are  most  consistently  perpetuated  in  this 
record:  “My  Friends:  I am  here  to  join  the  friends  and  neighbors  of 
General  Robinson  in  paying  my  tribute  of  respect  and  affection  to  the 
memory  of  the  deceased.  I wish  I had  fitting  words  to  command,  but 
called  at  this  trying  moment,  I can  only  say  what  the  heart  suggests. 
I knew  him  well.  For  four  years  he  was  my  colleague  in  the  National 
House  of  Representatives,  and  in  those  years  I came  to  love,  respect  anu 
honor  him.  He  was  a manly  man,  generous  and  open-hearted,  a true 
friend  and  an  honorable  opponent.  It  is  not  Kenton  and  Hardin 
county  only  that  are  mourning  around  his  bier.  I feel  His  death  a 


454 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


personal  bereavement,  the  loss  of  a true  friend.  The  state,  too,  has 
suffered,  he  was  an  able  and  worthy  public  servant,  a kind  and  indulgent 
husband  and  parent,  pleasant  and  accommodating  neighbor;  he  was  an 
honored  citizen  of  the  state,  one  who  served  it  faithfully  and  conspicuous- 
ly in  war  and  peace.” 

The  following  memorial,  prepared  by  a special  committee,  consist- 
ing of  the  secretary  of  state,  the  lieutenant  governor  and  attorney  gener- 
al of  Ohio,  was  prepared  shortly  after  his  death  and  should  be  reproduced 
in  this  memoir  of  his  life. 

“James  S.  Robinson,  a major  general  of  the  Union  army,  an  ex- 
congressman of  the  United  States  and  former  railroad  commissioner 
and  secretary  of  state  of  Ohio,  departed  this  life,  ripe  with  age  and 
honor,  on  Thursday,  January  14th,  1892.  In  behalf  of  the  great  state 
which  he  served  so  faithfully  in  peace  and  war,  we  join  with  his  family 
and  countrymen  in  expressions  of  affection  and  condolence.  Heroic 
almost  to  the  sacrifice  of  his  life  in  battle,  wise  in  the  councils  of  the 
nation,  rugged  and  honest  in  the  executive  service  of  his  state,  he  has 
closed  a typical  career  of  American  manhood  and  patriotism.  He  will 
long  be  revered  and  remembered  as  a striking  figure  among  the  great 
spirits  who  have  made  Ohio  first  in  peace  and  war  and  who  have  given 
to  the  country  its  greatest  eminence  and  proudest  characters.  His 
name  may  well  be  recorded  among  Ohio’s  heroic  dead.  Of  the  age,  and 
contemporaneous  in  defense  of  his  country  with  Grant,  Garfield,  Sherman 
and  Sheridan,  he  Avon  honorable  distinction  in  the  field;  while  his  public 
service  was  characterized  by  that  fidelity  to  duty  which  has  immortal- 
ized Giddings,  Wade,  Chase  and  Stanton.  Strong  in  military  and  public 
life,  he  was  stronger  in  those  essentials  of  character  that  distinguished 
real  manhood  in  family  and  personal  relations.  Honest,  blunt,  cordial 
and  Avarm-hearted,  those  who  knew  him  best  loved  him  most,  and  with 
them  we  join  in  tributes  to  his  memory.” 

Joseph  Ichler  Avas  born  February  12,  1844,  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio 
where  he  lived  until  he  was  fifteen  years  old.  He  is  the  son  of  David 
and  Margaretta  (Barton)  Ichler,  the  former  born  August  14,  1814,  at 
Carlsrue,  Baden,  and  the  latter  near  Shippensburg,  Pennsylvania,  July 
22,  1813.  When  about  sixteen  years  old  David  Ichler,  then  an  orphan, 
ran  away  from  home,  and  located  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  he  learned 
the  trade  of  shoemaker,  later  setting  up  in  the  shoe  business  for  himself. 
He  Avas  married  March  29,  1839,  to  Margaret  Barton  who  had  been  left 
an  orphan  in  Pennsylvania  when  quite  young,  and  who  had  been  brought 
to  Cleves,  Ohio,  by  a family  named  Leeper.  To  this  union  were  born 
two  children,  Catherine,  December  14,  1839,  and  Joseph,  February  12, 
1844. 

David  Ichler  conducted  a shoe  store  until  his  death  August  12,  1856, 
which  was  caused  by  brain  fever.  He  is  buried  in  Spring  Grove  ceme- 
tery at  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  On  March  7,  1859,  Mrs.  Ichler  and  son 
Joseph  came  to  Kenton,  leaving  the  daughter  Catherine  teaching  in  the 
public  schools  of  Cincinnati,  she  having  begun  teaching  at  the  early  age 
of  sixteen.  Later  Catherine  Ichler  joined  the  family,  and  was  married 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


455 


February  23,  1860,  to  John  Ries  of  Kenton  by  whom  she  had  six  chil- 
dren: Florence  M.,  Alice  W.,  David  I.,  John  J.,  George  Henry  and 

Milton  C.  Catherine  Ichler  Ries  died  June  27,  1875. 

On  coming  to  Kenton,  Joseph  Ichler  went  to  high  school  for  some 
months,  and  then  learned  the  harness  maker’s  trade  with  Goodin  and 
Barnett.  He  started  in  the  harness  business  for  himself  January  1, 
1864,  leaving  it  in  charge  of  Mr.  John  Dean  when  he  enlisted  in  the 
army.  He  served  in  Company  G,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-fifth  Ohio 
Volunteer  Infantry,  enlisting  March,  1864.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he 
entered  into  a partnership  with  Arthur  Dean  in  the  harness  business 
which  lasted  nine  years.  He  was  married  September  30,  1866,  to 
Annette  Elizabeth  Baker,  daughter  of  Earnest  Christian  and  Barbara 
(Pound)  Baker  in  Kenton.  Earnest  C.  Baker  was  the  son  of  John 
Nicholas  and  Margaret  (Elwert)  Baker  and  was  born  in  Gross  Biebrow, 
Germany,  October  15,  1810.  Barbara  Pound  was  born  April  27,  1815, 
and  was  married  to  Earnest  Baker  at  Hagerstown,  Maryland,  November 
15,  1833.  To  them  were  born  eight  children  as  follows:  Infant  born 

and  died  1834;  Daniel,  October  15,  1835;  Martha,  November  1,  1838; 
John,  March  8,  1840;  Susan,  May  28,  1844;  George,  April  23,  1846; 
Annette  Elizabeth,  August  1,  1848;  and  Sarah,  June  1,  1851.  About 
1847  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baker  moved  from  Maryland  to  Kenton  settling  on  a 
farm  about  two  miles  east  of  town.  Mrs.  Baker  died  November  14,  1854, 
and  some  years  later  Mr.  Baker  married  Mrs.  Dorothy  Poelsing,  a native 
of  Germany.  On  January  15,  1862,  Earnest  Baker  was  killed  in  the 
old  flouring  mill  that  stood  where  Robinson  and  Gage’s  Planing  Mill 
now  stands,  and  on  August  8,  1867,  at  the  very  same  place  and  in  the  very 
same  way  his  daughter-in-law,  Mrs.  Daniel  Baker,  was  killed.  Daniel 
Baker  died  March  4,  1866,  leaving  three  small  children.  Martha 
Baker  died  April  16,  1899. 

To  Joseph  and  Annette  E.  Ichler  were  born  the  following  children : 
May  M.,  Minnie  B.,  Ruali  D.,  George  David  and  Warren.  May  M. 
taught  school  for  some  years  but  is  now  the  general  delivery  clerk  in  the 
Kenton  postoffice.  Minnie  also  taught  school  in  the  country  schools 
and  in  Kenton,  and  then  worked  in  the  postoffice  some  years.  She  was 
married  June  5,  1901,  to  Willis  C.  Kohler,  the  present  postmaster  of 
Kenton.  Ruah  was  married  January  28,  1892,  to  John  W.  Stevenson  and 
to  them  have  been  born  six  children,  five  of  whom  are  living:  Frances 

Annette,  Agnes  Esther,  Frank  Joseph,  Willis  Warren  and  Ruby.  Frank 
Joseph  died  January  31,  1902.  For  some  years  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stevenson 
lived  on  a farm  near  Kenton,  and  then  moved  to  West  Mansfield,  Ohio, 
where  he  conducted  a hardware  store.  Later  he  bought  a store  in  Rich- 
wood,  Ohio,  and  continued  in  the  hardware  business  until  1907  when  he 
bought  a large  farm  in  Delaware  county  where  the  family  now  live. 
Warren  Ichler  is  a draughtsman  and  mechanic  and  is  at  present  em- 
ployed in  Bloomington,  Illinois.  George  David  Ichler  died  April  6, 
1880.  Mr.  and  Mi’s.  Ichler  also  brought  up  a nephew,  John  H.  Baker, 
son  of  Daniel  and  Sarah  J.  Baker. 

For  some  years  Joseph  Ichler  and  family  lived  in  Kenton  but  in 
April,  1874,  they  moved  to  the  farm  in  Buck  township  where  they  now 


456 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


reside.  On  account  of  failing  health  Margaret  Ichler  went  to  live  with 
her  son  in  1882  and  died  January  22,  1883,  at  his  home.  She  is  buried 
in  Wolf  Creek  cemetery.  Mr.  Ichler  was  a railway  mail  clerk  for  some 
time  during  the  administration  of  President  Cleveland,  but  at  the  close 
of  his  term  of  service  took  up  the  occupation  of  farming,  particularly 
the  raising  of  fine  fruits.  He  served  for  many  years  as  a member  of 
the  board  of  education  of  Buck  township  and  also  was  township  trustee. 
At  present  he  is  one  of  the  trustees  of  Grove  cemetery.  In  politics  he  is 
an  old  school  Democrat.  For  many  years  the  family  have  been  con- 
nected with  the  Wolf  Creek  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Willis  C.  Kohler  was  born  May  28,  1867,  in  Kenton,  Ohio.  He  is 
the  son  of  Jacob  and  Mary  (Rufty)  Kohler,  the  former  born  in  Berne, 
Switzerland,  March  16,  1824,  and  the  latter  in  Ar  Berg,  Switzerland, 
March  31,  1825.  At  an  early  age  Jacob  Kohler  was  left  an  orphan,  and 
when  twenty  years  old  he  set  out  for  America  locating  first  in  Pittsburg, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  worked  in  a flouring  mill.  He  came  to  Kenton 
in  a few  years  later  where  he  ever  afterwards  lived.  He  was  married 
April  15,  1855,  in  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  to  Mary  Rufty,  and  they 
immediately  afterward  returned  to  Kenton  taking  up  their  residence  in 
a small  house  where  the  East  school  building  now  stands.  To  them  were 
born  six  sons:  Frederick,  John,  Adolph,  Henry,  Willis  C.  and  Edward. 

Willis  C.  Kohler  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Kenton  both 
in  English  and  German,  leaving  school  at  the  age  of  seventeen  to  work  in 
George  Merri man’s  grocery.  With  but  a short  interval  out  of  the 
grocery  he  continued  his  work  there  until  appointed  a clerk  in  the  post- 
office  under  A.  M.  Rice,  February  28,  1890.  When  city  free  delivery 
was  established,  January  1,  1891,  he  became  one  of  the  first  letter  carriers 
and  continued  in  this  position  fifteen  years.  He  resigned  March,  1906, 
to  become  postmaster  of  the  city,  having  been  appointed  by  President 
Roosevelt,  April  13,  1906,  and  took  the  office  June  1,  1906,  and  is  serving 
his  second  term  in  this  capacity,  having  been  reappointed  by  President 
Taft,  March  25,  1910.  Mr.  Kohler  has  been  quite  successful  in  having 
many  reforms  in  the  service  inaugurated  in  the  local  office,  chief  of  which 
are  the  eight  hour  schedule  for  clerks  and  the  improvements  in  the  rural 
service.  Since  taking  charge  of  the  office  he  has  succeeded  in  getting 
two  new  clerks,  and  two  additional  letter  carriers  and  a new  rural  carrier. 

Mr.  Kohler  was  married  April  26,  1893,  to  Miss  Alice  R.  Watt  of 
Findlay,  Ohio,  daughter  of  James  and  Mercy  L.  (Stackhouse)  Watt, 
and  to  them  were  born  two  children:  James  Watt,  March  11,  1894,  and 
a daughter  February  12,  1896.  James  Watt  Kohler  died  August  4, 
1894,  and  the  daughter  February  12,  1896.  Mrs.  Kohler  died  January 
6,  1899,  in  Findlay,  Ohio,  while  on  a visit  to  her  old  home  and  is  buried 
in  Grove  cemetery. 

On  June  5,  1901,  Mr.  Kohler  was  married  to  Minnie  B.  Ichler, 
daughter  of  Joseph  Ichler,  whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume 
and  Annette  Ichler.  Previous  to  her  marriage  Mrs.  Kohler  taught 
school  in  Buck  township,  beginning  at  the  age  of  fifteen,  and  in  the 
Grammar  department  of  the  Kenton  schools  for  some  years.  On  Janu- 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


457 


ary  28,  1895,  she  was  appointed  a clerk  in  the  Kenton  postoffiee  by  A. 
G.  Ahlefeid,  then  city  postmaster,  and  continued  in  that  capacity  till 
her  marriage. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kohler  are  members  of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  of  Kenton,  and  Mr.  Kohler  is  a member  of  the  official  board  of 
that  organization.  He  is  a member  of  Latham  Lodge  F.  & A.  M.  and  is 
a thirty-second  degree  Mason.  Although  not  actively  engaged  in  farm- 
ing he  owns  a fine  farm  just  south  of  the  city  on  Taylor  creek,  and  is 
interested  in  all  agricultural  matters.  In  politics  he  is  a Republican. 

John  Wesley  Thew. — Farmers  of  the  present  day  carry  on  their 
work  in  a scientific  manner,  endeavoring  to  realize  the  maximum  of 
profit  from  their  land.  Among  the  prominent  and  successful  farmers  of 
Hardin  county,  Ohio,  is  John  Wesley  Thew,  owner  and  operator  of  a 
farm  in  Dudley  township.  Mr.  Thew  was  born  May  23,  1848,  in  Mar- 
ion county,  and  is  a son  of  Henry  and  Anna  (Hayward)  Thew,  the 
former  born  in  Lincolnshire,  England,  June  10,  1815.  Henry  Thew 
was  a son  of  Richard,  who  settled  in  Richland  county,  Ohio,  in  1825; 
his  wife’s  maiden  name  was  Bothernlv.  He  left  home  for  New  Orleans, 
and  was  never  again  heard  from.  An  uncle  of  Henry,  William  Thew, 
took  charge  of  the  family,  and  he  died  in  1883,  at  the  age  of  ninety-two. 

At  the  age  of  fifteen  Henry  Thew  removed  to  the  southern  part, 
of  Ohio,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of  shoemaker.  He  returned  to 
Marion  later,  and  in  1848  engaged  in  the  shoe  business  in  that  place. 
Later  he  moved  to  the  western  part  of  Marion  county,  trading  merchan- 
dise for  three  hundred  and  nine  acres  of  land,  then  covered  entirely  by 
timber.  Here  he  carried  on  farming  and  worked  at  his  trade  until  a 
short  time  before  his  death,  when  he  moved  to  Larue  and  retired.  His 
demise  occurred  June  2,  1885.  He  was  active  in  church  work  and  was 
one  of  the  first  members  of  the  old  Montgomery  log  church  (Methodist 
Episcopal) ? which  he  helped  build.  Though  a Republican  in  his  views 
he  was  not  active  in  political  affairs.  His  wife,  who  was  born  in  1820 
and  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-two  years,  was  a daughter  of  Isaac  Hayward, 
and  was  born  in  England.  She  came  with  her  parents  to  the  United 
States  as  a girl,  and  they  settled  in  Marion  county,  near  Larue.  Henry 
Thew  and  his  wife  had  seven  children,  of  whom  five  survive,  namely : 
Mary  A.,  wife  of  A.  Cutting,  of  Kenton ; Emma  L..  wife  of  C.  W. 
Robinson,  of  Forest,  Ohio ; John  W. ; Eliza,  wife  of  David  Ward,  of 
Hepburn ; and  Rob  E.,  of  Loraine. 

Until  twenty-two  years  of  age  John  W.  Thew  lived  with  his  parents, 
and  when  old  enough  began  to  help  with  the  work  of  the  farm.  He 
received  a good  education  in  the  public  schools,  and  after  reaching  man- 
hood bought  some  land,  where  he  carried  on  farming  until  his  marriage. 
He  remained  on  the  home  farm  five  years  and  located  in  Dudley  town- 
ship, Hardin  county,  in  1883,  bought  his  present  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres,  on  which  he  has  made  many  improvements,  and  has 
erected  a handsome  modern  residence.  He  carries  on  general  farming 
and  makes  a specialty  of  stock-raising  and  dairying.  He  has  now  prac- 
tically retired  from  active  life,  and  is  enjoying  a well  earned  rest. 


458 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Mr.  Thew  is  a faithful  member  of  the  Methodist  church  of  Hepburn. 
He  is  an  active  Republican,  held  the  office  of  township  trustee  one  term 
and  is  now  serving  as  committeeman.  At  present  he  is  executor  of  the 
William  Thew  estate,  now  in  course  of  settlement. 

In  1873  Mr.  Thew  married  Mattie  Stewart,  who  was  born  in  West 
Virginia,  January  18,  1852.  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Sarah  (De  Lau- 
rence) Stewart,  the  former,  born  in  1818,  a farmer,  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy-two  years;  the  latter  died  in  1858.  Mr.  Stewart’s  father, 
David  Stewart,  was  a native  of  Scotland  who  came  to  America  as  a 
young  man  and  married  Barbara  Golden.  The  great-grandmother  of 
Mrs.  Thew  was  a sister  to  former  President  McKinley’s  mother.  Joseph 
Stewart  and  his  wife  had  several  other  children  besides  Mrs.  Thew,  and 
those  living  are  one  sister  and  one  brother:  William,  a farmer  at  Forest, 
Ohio,  and  Sarah,  wife  of  J.  Wilson,  a farmer  of  Michigan. 

To  John  W.  Thew  and  his  wife  children  have  been  born  as  follows: 
Willis  E.,  born  July  26,  1875,  married  Milly  Spracklin,  and  they  have 
one  child,  Leroy;  Milly  Spracklin  died  and  Willis  married  for  his  second 
wife  a Miss  Del]  Van  Arsdale;  Lula  Dell,  born  November  20,  1877,  mar- 
ried Roy  Verdon,  of  Marion  county,  and  they  have  one  child,  Martha 
Evanda;  Henry  C.,  born  May  31,  1879,  married  Laura  Borth,  and  lives 
in  Lima.  Ohio,  where  he  is  a jeweler.  They  have  two  children,  Harold 
0.,  and  Mary  Martha.  Bertha  E.,  born  January  7,  1883,  married  F. 
Berbaugh,  a farmer  of  Marion  county,  and  they  have  one  child  Eurotis 
Wesley.  Richard  T.,  born  December  14,  1887.  Mr.  Thew  and  his  wife 
are  both  earnest  members  of  the  Methodist  church.  He  belongs  to  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  and  she  to  the  Pythian  Sisters  of  Hepburn.  They 
have  a host  of  friends,  and  their  home  is  the  frequent  scene  of  pleasant 
gatherings. 

John  Dille,  a successful  farmer  of  Hale  township,  Hardin  county, 
was  born  April  28,  1864,  on  the  old  Dille  homestead,  and  is  a son  of 
William  and  Mary  (Curl)  Dille.  William  Dille,  who  was  also  born  on 
the  homestead,  was  a son  of  Cyrus  Dille,  who  came  from  Pennsylvania 
and  settled  in  Hale  township  in  1843.  He  took  up  a farm  of  six  hundred 
acres  in  what  is  now  within  the  corporation  of  Mount  Victory.  The 
place  was  then  a forest  but  he  cleared  a small  space  where  he  erected  a 
log  cabin  without  roof  or  door,  planted  pumpkins,  corn  and  beans,  and 
returned  to  Pennsylvania  for  his  family.  Upon  his  return  to  the  Ohio 
home  he  found  the  Indians  had  gathered  his  crop  and  stored  it  in  his 
cabin.  He  never  had  any  trouble  with  the  Indians,  being  always  friend- 
ly with  them,  giving  and  receiving  favors.  Cyrus  Dille  was  a Whig 
but  became  a Republican  upon  the  inception  of  that  party.  He  married 
Susan  Blair  and  there  were  nine  children  in  their  family.  Mrs.  Dille 
died  in  1889,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two,  but  her  husband  died  in  1849,  at 
the  age  of  fifty-five. 

After  the  death  of  his  father  William  Dille  remained  on  the  home- 
stead with  his  mother  until  his  marriage.  In  1860  he  moved  to  the  farm 
now  occupied  by  his  son,  and  lived  in  a log  cabin  until  the  present  home 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


459 


was  built.  He  farmed  one  hundred  acres  which  he  inherited  from  his 
father,  and  here  he  lived  until  his  death  in  1872,  at  the  age  of  fifty-two. 
He  married  Mary  Curl  and  they  had  eleven  children.  She  was  a daugh- 
ter of  Elihu  and  Margaret  (Reams)  Curl  of  Mount  Victory.  They  were 
pioneers  of  this  county,  and  in  1850  Elihu  Curl  owned  a hotel  at  Mount 
Victory.  He  was  a carpenter  by  trade.  Mrs.  William  Dille  died  in 
1894,  aged  sixty-five  years.  Three  of  her  children  are  living:  John  of 
this  sketch ; Ross,  a farmer  of  Huntsville,  Ohio ; and  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
J.  McGinnis. 

John  Dille  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools,  and  then 
worked  for  his  father  on  the  farm  until  the  time  of  his  marriage.  He 
then  began  farming  the  old  homestead,  where  he  has  since  continued  with 
splendid  success.  He  is  an  enterprising,  wide-awake  farmer,  who  makes 
the  most  of  his  opportunities.  Politically  he  is  a Republican  and 
actively  interested  in  public  affairs,  now  holding  the  office  of  township 
trustee.  In  1886  he  married  Della,  daughter  of  F.  W.  and  Rose 
(Reynold)  Summers,  retired  farmers  of  Hale  township.  Mrs.  Dille  was 
born  April  28,  1867.  The  following  children  have  been  born  to  John 
Dille  and  wife:  William,  born  in  1887 ; Amy  Lanora,  in  1888,  living  at 
home;  Myrtle  R.,  born  in  1891 ; Mary  Rose,  in  1894;  and  John  Erwin,  in 
1902.  William,  who  lives  with  his  father  and  assists  in  carrying  on  the 
home  farm,  married  Flora,  daughter  of  George  and  Mary  (Harple) 
Battles,  and  they  have  one  child,  Oren. 

Irvin  IT.  Harvey,  a successful  farmer  and  a member  of  a family 
that  is  well  known  in  Hardin  county,  was  born  on  the  homestead  in 
Dudley  township,  September  23,  1862.  and  is  a son  of  Alonzo  and  Rachel 
(Ballinger)  Harvey.  Alonzo  Harvey  was  a native  of  Vermont,  born  in 
August,  1819,  in  Woodbury,  and  when  a.  young  man  he  engaged  in 
teaching  school.  He  moved  to  Ohio  and  there  taught  during  the 
winters  and  worked  on  a farm  during  the  summers  until  his  marriage, 
July  7,  1844,  when  he  settled  in  North  Greenfield,  Logan  county.  Six 
years  later  he  removed  to  a farm  near  West  Mansfield  and  for  ten  years 
was  engaged  in  brick  making  as  well  as  farming.  In  1859  Mr.  Harvey 
located  in  Mount  Victory,  where  he  lived  a year  while  he  was  clearing 
his  farm,  and  in  1860  he  settled  on  his  land.  Tie  became  a successful 
farmer,  and  in  1879  retired  from  his  farm  and  moved  to  Kenton,  where 
he  and  his  son  opened  a general  store.  Two  years  later  the  father  sold 
his  interest  and  retired  from  active  life.  Mr.  Harvey  was  an  earnest 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  an  active  worker  for  its 
interests.  For  many  years  he  was  engaged  in  selling  family  Bibles,  and 
in  this  connection  became  well  known  in  Hardin  county.  He  was  a 
Republican  and  served  some  time  as  a.  justice  of  the  peace,  two  terms 
in  Logan  county  and  two  terms  in  Dudley  township,  Hardin  county. 

The  wife  of  Alonzo  Harvey  was  born  September  15,  1823,  in  Logan 
county,  Ohio,  daughter  of  Caleb  and  Mary  (Branson)  Ballinger,  who 
came  to  Ohio  from  Virginia.  Mrs.  Ballinger  died  September  21.  1905. 
Caleb  Ballinger  was  a local  preacher  of  the  Methodist  church  in  Logan 
county,  Ohio.  Mr.  Harvey  and  his  wife  had  six  children,  namely: 


460 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Irvin  II.;  W.  N.,  a carpenter  of  Rushsylvania,  Ohio;  and  Mary,  widow 
of  G.  L.  Thompson,  of  Mount  Victory,  Ohio,  who  has  six  children,  five 
sons  and  one  daughter.  Isaac  N.,  J.  O.  and  T.  M.  were  the  three  oldest 
of  the  children. 

Irvin  II.  Harvey  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  and 
spent  his  childhood  on  a farm.  After  completing  his  education  he 
worked  some  time  on  a farm  for  a neighbor,  and  when  his  father  pur- 
chased a half-interest  in  a store  at  Kenton  he  worked  there  as  clerk  five 
years.  He  sold  his  interest  in  the  store  and  secured  for  the  same  one 

hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  Indiana,  which  he  later  sold  and  then 
spent  four  years  on  a farm  in  Dudley  township,  after  which  he  located 
on  his  present  farm  in  Hale  township.  Mr.  Harvey  carries  on  general 
farming  and  raises  some  stock.  He  is  enterprising  and  ambitious,  and 
in  his  dealings  with  his  fellows  has  proven  himself  to  be  a man  of  high 
character  and  sterling  honesty.  Politically  he  is  a Republican,  takes  an 
active  interest  in  public  affairs  and  served  three  years  as  assessor  of  Hale 
township.  He  is  a devout  member  of  the  Christian  church,  as  is  also  his 
wife. 

On  December  25,  1887,  Mr.  Harvey  married  Emma  Curl,  who  was 
born  November  10,  1866,  daughter  of  Aaron  and  Rachel  (Harpel)  Curl. 
Mr.  Curl  is  a prominent  farmer  of  Hale  township.  Mr.  Harvey  and  his 
wife  have  children  as  follows:  Charles,  born  October  29,  1888;  Ottie 

E..  born  March  22,  1891;  Blanch  M.,  born  September  22,  1900;  and 
Katie  Agnes,  born  March  1,  1902.  All  are  at  home.  Mr.  Harvey  is  a 
life-long  resident  of  the  county,  where  he  is  well  known  and  highly 
respected. 


James  R.  Dunlap. — One  of  the  venerable  and  honored  pioneer  citi- 
zens of  Hardin  county,  where  he  has  maintained  his  home  from  his 
boyhood  days  to  the  present  time,  Mr.  Dunlap  has  been  long  and 
prominently  identified  with  the  great  basic  industry  of  agriculture,  in 
connection  with  which  he  has  so  ordered  his  coui’se  as  to  achieve  definite 
success  and  independence,  being  one  of  the  substantial  citizens  of  the 
county  and  the  owner  of  a finely  improved  farm,  located  in  Marion 
and  Roundhead  townships.  He  is  a man  of  strong  mentality  and  much 
administrative  ability  and  has  served  in  various  positions  of  distinctive 
trust  and  responsibility — a preferment  indicating  the  high  esteem  m 
which  he  is  held  in  the  community  where  he  has  long  lived  and  labored 
to  goodly  ends. 

Mr.  Dunlap  finds  a due  measure  of  satisfaction  in  reverting  to  the 
fine  old  Buckeye  state  as  the  place  of  his  nativity,  and  the  name  which 
he  bears  has  been  identified  with  the  annals  of  this  favored  common- 
wealth for  more  than  three-fourths  of  a century.  He  was  born  in 
Weathersfiehl  township,  Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  on  the  2d  of  March, 
1835,  and  is  a son  of  John  A.  and  Susanna  (Mulholland)  Dunlap,  both 
natives  of  Ireland,  where  they  were  reared  to  maturity  and  where  their 
marriage  wa s solemnized,  the  father  having  been  born  in  the  year  1800. 
In  1832  they  immigrated  to  America,  and  their  first  child,  the  only  one 
born  in  the  Emerald  Isle,  died  on  the  voyage,  being  buried  at  sea.  Soon 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


461 


after  their  arrival  in  the  United  States  they  came  to  Ohio  and  took  up 
their  residence  in  Trumbull  county,  where  the  father  followed  farming 
until  1844,  when  he  removed  with  his  family  to  Hardin  county  and 
purchased  a tract  of  land  in  Marion  township,  where  he  reclaimed  a 
productive  farm  and  passed  the  residue  of  his  life,  an  honest,  earnest 
and  industrious  citizen  and  one  who  ever  commanded  the  high  regard 
of  all  who  knew  him.  He  died  in  1882  and  his  devoted  wife  and  help- 
meet passed  away  in  1868,  both  having  been  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  They  became  the  parents  of  five  children,  of  whom 
four  attained  to  years  of  maturity  and  of  whom  three  are  living. 
Joseph  A.  sacrificed  his  life  in  the  service  of  his  country,  having  enlisted 
in  June  1861,  in  response  to  President  Lincoln’s  first  call,  as  a member 
of  Company  II.  Thirteenth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  having  been 
killed  in  the  sanguinary  battle  of  Stone’s  River.  Of  the  three  living 
children  the  subject  of  this  review  is  the  eldest;  Ellen  is  the  widow  of 
Allen  F.  McArthur  and  resides  in  Kenton,  Ohio ; and  Rachel  is  the 
widow  of  Alexander  Dempster,  and  resides  in  Roundhead  township. 

James  R.  Dunlap  secured  his  rudimentary  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  Trumbull  county  and  later  continued  his  studies  in  the 
schools  of  Hardin  county,  to  which  his  parents  removed  when  he  was 
about  nine  years  of  age.  He  Avas  reared  to  the  discipline  of  the  pioneer 
farm  and  did  his  share  in  reclaiming  the  land  and  in  the  other  arduous 
vrork  demanded  in  the  early  days  and  but  dimly  realized  by  the  young 
men  of  the  present  generation  in  the  same  locality,  now  marked  by 
opulent  prosperity  and  manifold  advantages.  Mr.  Dunlap  finally 
initiated  his  independent  career  as  a farmer,  securing  a small  tract  of 
land  from  his  father  and  later  adding  to  the  same  by  purchase  of  ad- 
joining land.  He  has  made  his  one  of  the  model  farms  of  the  county 
and  the  same  comprises  tAvelve  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  located  in 
Marion  and  Roundhead  townships.  The  buildings  are  of  the  best  type, 
including  the  modern  residence,  which  he  erected  in  1893  and  which 
is  the  finest  house  in  Marion  toAvnship.  Mr.  Dunlap  nOAv  relegates  the 
active  work  of  the  farm  to  other  and  younger  hands,  though  he  finds 
pleasure  in  giving  a general  supervision  to  his  farm  and  to  directing  the 
various  details  of  its  operation,  in  which  connection  he  brings  to  bear 
long  and  practical  experience  and  much  discrimination  in  a business 
way. 

Mr.  Dunlap  has  ever  been  progressive,  loyal  and  public-spirited  as 
a citizen  and  has  given  his  aid  and  influence  in  support  of  all  measures 
and  enterprises  projected  for  the  general  Avelfare  of  the  community. 
He  was  one  of  the  organizers  and  is  still  a stockholder  of  the  United 
Farmers’  Telephone  Company,  which  affords  the  best  grade  of  service 
to  a large  number  of  patrons,  and  is  a member  of  the  directorate  of  the 
Old  National  Bank  at  Lima.  Ohio.  In  politics  he  is  foimd  arrayed  as  a 
stalwart  advocate  of  the  principles  and  policies  for  which  the  Republi- 
can party  stands  sponsor,  and  he  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  the 
promotion  of  its  cause.  In  1863  he  Avas  captain  of  a militia  organiza- 
tion constituting  a part  of  the  Home  Guard,  organized  for  service 
during  the  progress  of  the  Civil  Avar.  His  eligibility  for  public  office 
Vol.  II— 2 


462 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


has  not  failed  of  clue  recognition,  and  he  served  six  years,  with  marked 
ability  and  aeeeptableness,  as  a member  of  the  board  of  county  com- 
missioners, which  incumbency  he  retained  from  1873  to  1879.  In  1893 
lie  was  chosen  one  of  the  four  members  of  the  state  board  of  road  com- 
missioners. This  appointment  was  conferred  by  the  lamented  President 
McKinley,  who  was  at  that  time  governor  of  Ohio.  He  and  his  family 
hold  membership  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Pleasant  Hill, 
and  the  home  is  a center  of  gracious  hospitality. 

On  the  13th  of  April,  1870,  was  recorded  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Dunlap  to  Miss  Viola  L.  Roberts,  who  was  born  in  Westminster  township, 
Allen  county,  Ohio,  a daughter  of  the  late  J.  B.  Roberts,  who  was  a 
representative  farmer  of  Allen  county  at  the  time  of  his  death.  In 
conclusion  is  entered  a brief  record  concerning  the  children  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Dunlap : Rhoda,  who  was  graduated  in  Oberlin  College,  is  the 

wife  of  William  H.  Miller  and  they  reside  in  the  city  of  Cleveland ; 
Joseph  Wilber  is  engaged  in  farming  in  Marion  township;  Thomas  Reed 
Dunlap  is  a resident  of  Alger,  where  he  is  engaged  in  the  grain  business; 
Miss  Mabel,  who  is  now  at  the  parental  home,  was  graduated  in  Oswego 
Normal  School  of  Oswego,  New  York,  and  later  in  Columbia  University, 
in  New  York  City,  from  which  historic  institution  she  received  the 
degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts;  Donald  D.  and  Josiah  died  in  childhood; 
Nellie,  who  was  a student  of  Oberlin  College,  is  the  wife  of  C.  R.  Holmes 
and  they  reside  in  San  Bernardino,  California  ; James  R.,  Jr.,  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  class  of  1910  in  the  Normal  School  at  Ada,  Ohio;  and  Ruth 
is  attending  high  school  in  the  city  of  Cleveland,  being  a member  of  the 
class  of  1910. 


John  Williams,  a merchant  of  Ridgeway,  Ohio,  was  born  April  1, 
1848,  in  Hale  township.  Hardin  county,  and  is  a son  of  Jonathan  and 
Betsy  Elizabeth  (Snoddy)  Williams.  Jonathan  Williams  was  born  in 
North  Carolina,  in  1798,  and  came  with  his  parents  to  Hillsboro,  Ohio, 
with  a team  and  wagon ; later  they  removed  to  Logan  county,  Ohio.  His 
father,  John  Williams,  came  to  America  from  Wales,  and  followed  farm- 
ing all  his  life.  Jonathan  Williams  took  up  farming  after  finishing 
his  education,  settling  first  in  Logan  county  and  later  removing  to 
Hardin  county ; in  1829  he  purchased  a farm  of  one  hundred  acres  in 
Hale  township,  in  1840  returned  to  Logan  county,  and  came  back  to 
Hardin  county  in  1851.  His  wife,  a daughter  of  Abner  and  Margaret 
(Hall)  Snoddy,  died  in  1870,  at  the  age  of  sixty-one  years.  Besides 
John,  their  children  were:  Brice,  living  retired  in  Mount  Victory;  Wait, 
in  the  timber  business  in  California;  Hannah,  widow  of  John  Wildon; 
and  Tillie,  wife  of  A.  J.  Johnson  of  California.  Jonathan  Williams 
was  a member  of  the  Methodist  Protestant  church ; in  politics  he  was  a 
Republican,  and  he  was  the  first  trustee  elected  in  Hale  township. 

John  Williams  attended  the  public  schools,  and  at  the  age  of  eigh- 
teen years  took  up  farming  with  his  father;  he  also  operated  a threshing 
machine  and  worked  at  teaming  and  similar  occupations.  Mr.  Williams 
has  been  a resident  of  Ridgeway  since  1865,  and  is  one  of  the  leading  and 
most  respected  citizens.  He  is  a Republican  in  politics,  and  in  1900 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


463 


took  the  census  of  Hale  township.  In  1905  Mr.  Williams  opened  a 
grocery,  restaurant  and  bakery  establishment,  which  he  is  still  carrying 
on. 

On  August  20,  1864,  Mr.  Williams  enlisted  in  Company  I,  One 
Hundred  and  Eightieth  Ohio  Volunteers.  He  was  sent  to  Tennessee 
under  Schofield’s  army,  in  the  Twenty-third  Corps;  he  went  to  North 
Carolina  and  took  part  in  the  four  days’  battle  at  Kingston,  and  later 
was  with  Sherman’s  army  until  the  surrender  of  Johnston.  After  Lee’s 
surrender  they  were  discharged,  May  12,  1865,  at  Charlotte,  North  Caro- 
lina. Returning  home,  he  took  up  his  residence  at  Ridgeway,  and  is 
one  of  the  oldest  residents.  He  is  a charter  member  of  the  local  branch 
of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  He  also  belongs  to  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  and  has  passed  through  the  chairs.  He  is  a public-spirited 
citizen,  and  well  known  throughout  the  county  where  he  has  spent  his 
entire  life. 

In  1873  Mr.  Williams  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  John  and 
Sarah  (Pierce)  Davis;  John  Davis,  a merchant  of  Ridgeway,  is  a native 
of  Maryland.  Mrs.  Davis  died  January  9,  1895.  Mr.  Williams  and 
his  wife  became  the  parents  of  children  as  follows:  Emma,  Raymond 

and  Sallie.  Emma,  wife  of  J.  S.  Smith,  lives  with  her  father;  they 
have  three  children,  Martha,  Kennon  and  Catherine,  and  their  fourth 
child,  Leo,  was  accidentally  killed  by  a playmate  with  a pitchfork. 
Raymond  is  a railroad  conductor  and  lives  at  Richmond,  Indiana;  he 
married  Kate  Gerlach  and  they  have  one  child.  Sallie,  wife  of  George 
Grimes,  a gardener  of  Harbor  Springs,  Michigan,  has  one  child. 

Jacob  Sieg,  now  retired  from  active  life  and  residing  at  Ridgeway, 
Ohio,  was  born  in  Hale  township,  Hardin  county,  September  2,  1843. 
He  is  a son  of  Jonathan  IT.  Sieg,  born  in  1815,  in  Augusta  county, 
Virginia,  who  was  a son  of  Jacob  Sieg,  a native  of  Pennsylvania.  Jacob 
Sieg,  the  grandfather,  was  born  May  19,  1774,  and  died  November  5. 
1855;  he'married  Lydia  Haines,  who  was  born  January  8,  1793,  and  died 
in  1879.  They  moved  to  Logan  county,  Ohio,  in  1828,  and  in  1836 
settled  in  Taylor  Creek  township,  Hardin  county,  and  there  built  a log 
cabin ; they  cleared  a woodland  farm  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres. 
He  was  a member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  and  politically  was  a 
Democrat. 

Jonathan  H.  Sieg  remained  with  his  parents  until  his  marriage, 
January  12,  1837,  to  Lydia  Hopkins,  born  in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  Janu- 
ary 28,  1817,  and  still  surviving,  probably  the  oldest  lady  resident  of 
Hardin  county,  and  she  still  retains  her  mind  and  faculties.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  Archibald  Hopkins,  a native  of  Delaware ; he  settled  in 
Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  in  1806.  Archibald  Hopkins  was  a soldier  in 
the  war  of  1812 ; his  parents  were  John  and  Martha  Elsie  Hopkins. 
Jonathan  IT.  Sieg  settled  on  a farm  in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  after  his 
marriage,  and  in  1840  settled  in  Hale  township,  Hardin  county.  In 
1853  he  removed  to  Ridgeway,  where  he  died  February  9,  1868;  he  was 
also  engaged  in  the  lumber  business,  and  for  five  years  carried  on  a dry 
goods  business  in  Ridgeway.  He  sold  out  his  store,  but  was  engaged 


464 


HISTORY  OP  TIARDIN  COUNTY 


in  the  lumber  trade  until  his  death.  His  children  were : Jacob ; A.  H. 
Sieg.  of  Bntte,  Montana ; one  son  deceased ; and  Eliza  I.,  widow  of 
George  P.  Parrett,  of  Adams  county,  Ohio.  Mr.  Sieg  was  a member 
of  the  Christian  church  and  politically  was  a Democrat  until  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  rebellion,  after  which  he  was  a Republican.  He  was 
elected  to  the  legislature  in  1861  and  served  two  terms.  He  served  many 
years  as  a justice  of  the  peace.  In  1862  he  removed  to  Cincinnati  and 
joined  the  “Squirrel  Hunters,”  hut  on  account  of  his  age  never  saw 
active  service. 

Jacob  Sieg  received  his  education  in  the  public  school  and  afterward 
taught  school ; at  the  age  of  twenty  he  began  farming  with  his  father. 
In  August.  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Company  P,  Thirteenth  Ohio  Volunteer 
Infantry,  joining  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland.  He  participated  in 
many  battles  and  was  wounded  at  Murfreesboro  and  sent  home.  He 
received  his  discharge  in  March,  1863.  Returning  to  Ridgeway  he 
engaged  in  teaching  and  farming,  which  he  continued  until  1873,  when 
he  began  to  carry  on  the  home  farm.  Prom  1886  until  1891  he  was  one 
of  the  owners  of  the  mill  at  Ridgeway,  since  which  he  has  been  retired 
from  active  business.  He  is  one  of  the  most  highly  respected  and 
popular  citizens  of  Ridgeway,  and  is  actively  interested  in  public  affairs. 
Politically  Mr.  Sieg  is  a Republican,  and  from  1873  until  1904  served  as 
a justice  of  the  peace.  He  was  mayor  of  Ridgeway  three  terms,  and  has 
frequently  been  clerk  and  a member  of  the  school  board.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  of  Ridgeway,  of  which  he  is 
now  adjutant.  This  post  was  named  after  his  brother,  Robert  Iv. 
Robert  K.  Sieg  was  born  in  1838,  and  in  1861  enlisted  in  the  same  com- 
pany as  his  brother ; he  was  first  promoted  to  the  rank  of  second  lieuten- 
ant, was  wounded  while  climbing  Missionary  Ridge,  after  which  he  was 
promoted  to  first,  lieutenant,  and  later  captain.  He  is  now  deceased. 

In  1875  Mr.  Sieg  married  Victoria  Crow,  born  November  23,  1857, 
in  Wyandot  county,  Ohio,  daughter  of  E.  B.  Crow,  a physician  still 
practicing  his  profession  at  Ridgeway.  Mr.  Crow  married  Isabel 
Hudson.  Mr.  Sieg  and  his  wnfe  became  the  parents  of  five  children : 
two  deceased;  R.  Carl,  managing  his  father’s  farm,  and  is  unmarried; 
Kate,  born  in  1886,  is  teaching  school ; and  Laura  is  living  at  home,  and 
is  prominent  in  literary  circles. 

William  Grant  Blttler  is  prominently  numbered  among  the  busi- 
ness men  of  Mount  Victory,  a manufacturer  and  a poultry  shipper.  He 
was  born  in  this  city  on  the  6th  of  June,  1868,  a son  of  Daniel  and  Leah 
(Ansley)  Butler,  both  of  whom  Avere  burned  to  death  on  the  14th  of 
November,  1907,  and  they  died  within  four  hours  of  the  terrible  accident. 
The  father  was  then  seventy-three  years  of  age.  He  was  born  in  1836, 
in  Logan  county,  a son  of  Benjamin  Butler,  who  came  as  a boy  to  Logan 
county,  where  he  farmed  all  his  life.  Benjamin  Butler  was  a Quaker 
and  he  died  in  1872,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight.  His  wife  was  Eliza 
Dickinson,  who  was  a daughter  of  Thomas  Dickinson  a native  o(f 
Virginia.  Mr.  Dickinson  lived  to  the  patriarchal  age  of  ninety-three 
years.  His  daughter,  Mrs.  Butler,  died  in  1888,  when  seventy-seven. 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


465 


After  his  school  days  were  over,  Daniel  Butler  engaged  as  a farmer 
and  a stock  raiser.  He  came  to  Hardin  county  in  1860,  and  settled  on  a 
farm  near  Ada.  Later  he  moved  near  to  Mount  Victory  and  in  1880  he 
retired  from  farming  and  came,  to  the  city,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the 
real  estate  business  up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  He  married  Leah 
Ansley  in  1858.  She  was  a daughter  of  Joseph  and  Lydia  (Johnson) 
Ansley  and  was  born  near  Russellville,  Logan  county,  in  1842.  Joseph 
Ansley  was  born  in  Maryland  and  when  a youth  emigrated  to  Kentucky, 
where  he  married  Lydia  Johnson.  Later  he  and  his  wife  and  child 
came  to  Logan  county,  Ohio,  on  horseback.  His  wife  was  a daughter  of 
a Kentucky  planter  and  slave  owner.  Joseph  Ansley  died  December  26, 
1876,  aged  seventj'-five,  and  his  wife  died  the  previous  year,  on  the  30th 
of  March,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine.  In  the  family  of  Daniel  Butler  and 
wife  were  the  following  sons  and  daughters : Henry  C,,  of  Englewood, 

Kansas,  a farmer  and  stock  man ; Orra  0.,  engaged  in  the  harness  busi- 
ness in  Mount  Victory;  Lydia  A.,  the  wife  of  II.  Perry,  a stockman  at 
Hutchinson,  Kansas;  William  Grant,  mentioned  more  at  length  below; 
Viola,  the  wife  of  M.  Richards,  a farmer  in  Buck  township,  Hardin 
county;  Etta,  wife  of  John  Buck,  a banker  and  stockman  at  Englewood, 
Kansas ; and  Mollie,  the  wife  of  William  Wagner,  of  Pittsburg.  Daniel 
Butler  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Disciples  church  and  he  be- 
longed to  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  of  Mount  Victory. 

After  leaving  school  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years  William  G.  Butler 
pursued  a course  in  bookkeeping  at  Mansfield,  Ohio,  during  one  term, 
and  then  entering  the  employ  of  Dickinson  and  Wallace,  Mount  Victory, 
he  continued  as  their  salesman  for  three  years,  while  during  the  following 
fourteen  years  he  was  engaged  in  the  grocery  business.  Selling  out 
his  interests  in  that  business  in  1906  Mr.  Butler  built  and  equipped  a 
creamery  at  Mount  Victory,  placing  in  it  the  latest  and  most  improved 
steam  and  gas  machinery,  and  he  manufactures  both  butter  and  ice 
cream,  making  on  an  average  twelve  hundred  pounds  of  butter  weekly. 
He  is  in  business  with  a partner,  the  firm  name  being  Butler  & Richards, 
and  they  are  also  extensive  dealers  in  and  shippers  of  poultry.  They 
are  men  of  well  known  ability,  and  their  firm  is  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent of  the  business  corporations  of  Mount  Victory. 

Mr.  Butler  married  on  the  4tli  of  September,  1896,  Estella  Williams 
born  December  14,  1872,  a daughter  of  Warneck  and  Huldah  M.  (Reams) 
Williams,  the  father  born  on  the  6th  of  April,  1845,  and  the  mother  on 
the  5th  of  April,  1851,  and  they  are  living  in  Dudley  township,  Hardin 
county.  Mrs.  Butler  is  a granddaughter  on  the  paternal  side  of  Jesse 
Williams,  born  April  4,  1804,  and  of  Hannah  Sutherland,  his  wife,  born 
September  2,  1807.  Mr.  Butler  is  a member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
fraternity,  Mount  Victory  Lodge  No.  735.  In  his  political  affiliations 
he  is  a Republican,  and  he  has  been  honored  with  public  office,  serving 
as  treasurer  of  the  township  and  six  years  as  corporation  treasurer,  and 
he  has  also  served  as  a member  of  the  (Mount  Victory  school  board.  He 
is  one  of  the  representative  citizens  and  business  men  of  his  city. 


466 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Orva  Otis  Butler  represents  a family  that  has  been  identified  with 
the  interests  of  Mount  Victory  and  of  Hardin  county  for  many  years, 
prominent  in  both  its  business  and  agricultural  life,  and  Orva  O.  Butler 
is  well  known  as  a dealer  in  buggies  and  harness  and  as  a sheep  raiser  and 
shipper.  lie  was  born  in  Mount  Victory  on  the  18th  of  March,  1882,  a 
son  of  Daniel  and  Leah  (Ansley)  Butler,  both  of  whom  were  burned  to 
death  on  the  14th  of  November,  1907,  and  they  died  within  four  hours 
of  the  terrible  accident.  The  father  was  then  seventy-three  years  of  age. 
(Further  ancestral  history  will  be  found  in  the  sketch  of  William  G. 
Butler.)  In  their  family  were  the  following  sons  and  daughters: 
Henry  C.,  of  Englewood,  Kansas,  a farmer  and  stockman  there;  Orva  O., 
mentioned  below ; Lydia  A.,  the  wife  of  II.  Perry,  a stockman  at  Hutchin- 
son, Kansas;  William  Grant,  a prominent  manufacturer  and  poultry 
shipper  living  in  Mount  Victory ; Viola,  the  wife  of  M.  Richards,  a farmer 
in  Buck  township,  Hardin  county;  Etta,  wife  of  John  Buck,  a banker  and 
stockman  at  Englewood,  Kansas;  and  Mollie,  the  wife  of  William 
Wagner,  of  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania. 

Orva  0.  Butler  from  the  age  of  ten  to  eighteen  years  was  engaged 
in  the  dairy  business  with  his  mother,  and  graduating  from  school  at  the 
age  of  eighteen  he  with  the  money  he  had  saved  as  a dairyman  bought 
a half  interest  in  his  brother’s  grocery  store  in  Mount  Victory,  and  after 
four  years  there  became  associated  with  his  father-in-law,  T.  J.  Boyd, 
as  a buggy  and  harness  merchant.  He  has  thus  continued  to  the 
present  time,  and  has  become  well  known  and  prominent  as  a business 
man  and  citizen.  He  is  also  qhite  extensively  engaged  in  raising  sheep, 
feeding  on  an  average  of  five  hundred  head.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  fraternity,  Mount  Victory  Lodge  No.  735,  and  has 
served  the  order  as  master  of  exchequer.  He  is  a Republican  in  his 
political  affiliations,  and  at  the  present  time  is  presiding  officer  of  the 
election  board. 

Mr.  Butler  married  Lela  J.  Boyd,  who  was  born  August  30,  1882,  a 
daughter  of  T.  J.  and  Deborah  (Marmon)  Boyd.  T.  J.  Boyd  is  a 
Mount  Victory  merchant,  where  he  is  living  at  the  age  of  sixty  years,  and 
his  wife  is  fifty-four  years  of  age.  They  have  two  children,  a son  and  a 
daughter,  and  the  former,  Clarence  Boyd,  is  also  living  at  Mount  Victory. 
Mrs.  Butler  is  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  she  is 
also  associated  with  the  Foreign  Missionary  Society  and  with  the  Ladies 
Aid  of  that  denomination.  A son,  Gordon  Boyd  Butler,  was  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Butler  in  1905. 

Clarence  D.  Hindall. — The  thriving  little  village  of  Alger  is 
fortunate  in  having  as  superintendent  of  its  public  schools  so  able  and 
enthusiastic  an  educator  as  Professor  Hindall,  who  has  held  this  incum- 
bency since  1907  and  who  has  brought  the  schools  up  to  a high  standard 
of  efficiency,  the  same  being  on  the  accredited  list  of  the  leading  institu- 
tions of  higher  academic  education  in  the  state.  The  schools  under  his 
direction  consist  of  six  departments,  including  the  high  school,  and 
employment  is  given  to  five  teachers  in  addition  to  the  superintendent. 
The  facilities  and  methods  are  of  the  best  modern  type  and  the  work  of 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


467 


all  departments  is  conducted  with  utmost  harmony,  insuring  the  best 
results  in  the  instruction  of  students  and  economy  and  precision  in  the 
carrying  out  of  the  prescribed  curriculum. 

Professor  Hindall  finds  a due  mede  of  satisfaction  in  reverting  to 
the  old  Buckeye  state  as  the  place  of  his  nativity.  He  was  born  on  the 
homestead  farm  of  his  father,  in  Perry  township,  Logan  county,  Ohio, 
on  the  5tli  of  September,  1882,  and  is  a son  of  Robert  W.  and  Melissa 
(Powell)  Hindall,  who  still  reside  in  that  county,  where  they  hold  a 
secure  place  in  popular  confidence  and  esteem.  They  are  devoted  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  church  and  in  politics  the  father  gives  his  allegiance 
to  the  man  and  not  to  the  party.  Of  the  three  children,  all  of  whom  are 
living,  the  subject  of  this  review  is  the  second  in  order  of  birth. 

Professor  Hindall  was  reared  on  the  home  farm  and  as  a boy  he 
began  to  contribute  his  quota  to  its  work,  in  the  meanwhile  continuing  to 
attend  the  district  school  through  the  winter  terms  until  he  had  attained 
to  the  age  of  fifteen  years,  when  he  entered  the  high  school  at  West  Mans- 
field, where  he  completed  the  prescribed  four  years’  course  and  was 
graduated  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1901.  Shortly  afterward  he  as- 
sumed the  position  of  shipping  clerk  in  the  wholesale  grocery  establish- 
ment of  Williams  & Hedman,  of  Columbus,  Ohio,  for  which  concern  he 
later  became  a traveling  salesman.  With  this  firm  he  continued  em- 
ployed for  two  years,  though  in  the  meanwhile  he  taught  two  winter 
terms  in  the  district  schools  of  his  native  county.  In  1903  he  was 
matriculated  in  the  theological  department  of  Hiram  College,  at  Hiram, 
Portage  county,  his  intention  being  at  the  time  to  prepare  himself  for  the 
ministry  of  the  Christian  church.  He  continued  in  the  divinity  school 
for  two  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which  he  transferred  to  the  classical 
course  in  the  academic  department,  in  which  he  was  graduated  as  a 
member  of  the  class  of  1907,  receiving  from  this  historic  and  well  ordered 
institution  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  In  the  autumn  of  the  same 
year  he  was  chosen  superintendent  of  the  public  schools  of  Alger,  wdiere 
he  has  since’ given  most  efficient  service  in  this  executive  and  educational 
office  and  where  he  lias  gained  a high  place  in  popular  confidence  and 
esteem,  both  as  an  educator  and  as  a loyal  and  public-spirited  citizen. 

In  politics  Professor  Hindall  votes  independent  of  party  ties,  and 
has  had  no  desire  to  enter  the  arena  of  “practical  politics.’’  He  is 
affiliated  with  Ada  Lodge,  No.  344,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  at  Ada, 
Ohio,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  zealous  and  valued  members  of  the 
Christian  church. 

On  the  27th  of  July,  1909,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Professor 
Hindall  to  Miss  DeBretto  L.  Martin,  who  was  born  at  Ada,  Hardin  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  and  who  was  a resident  of  that  village  at  the  time  of  her 
marriage.  Pier  father,  C.  L.  Martin,  died  at  Canton,  Ohio,  when  the 
daughter  was  about  two  years  old.  Mrs.  Hindall  is  a graduate  of  the 
Ada  high  school,  also  of  the  school  of  music  and  art  of  the  Ohio  North- 
ern University  in  her  native  town  and  is  a graduate  of  the  National 
Park  Seminary,  Washington,  D.  C. 


468 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Frank  W.  Lydick  is  prominently  known  in  Hardin  county  as  a wire 
fence  merchant,  and  his  home  is  at  Mount  Victory.  lie  was  born  at 
Dunkirk  of  this  county  October  7,  1877,  and  his  father,  Samuel  B. 
Lydick,  was  a carpenter  there  for  many  years,  but  finally  embarking  in 
the  undertaker’s  business  he  continued  the  latter  vocation  until  his  death, 
on  the  13th  of  April,  1903.  He  was  one  of  the  prominent  and  well 
known  residents  of  Dunkirk.  He  married  in  his  early  life  Miss  Martha 
E.  Beartehe,  and  their  children  are:  James,  engaged  in  the  livery  busi- 
ness in  Dunkirk;  Isaac,  also  a liveryman  there;  Joseph,  a contractor  at 
Union  City;  Harry,  a clerk  in  the  postoffice  at  Fort  Wayne;  and  Mollie, 
the  wife  of  Eder  Ebert,  of  Fort  Wayne. 

Frank  W.  Lydick,  also  one  of  the  above  family,  graduated  from  the 
Dunkirk  high  school  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years,  and  then  learning  the 
confectionery  and  candy  making  business  he  was  thus  engaged  for  six 
years  in  Fort  Wayne.  Coming  then  to  Dunkirk  lie  was  in  the  livery 
business  for  fifteen  months,  and  in  1906  he  embarked  in  the  wire  fence 
business  in  Mount  Victory,  being  also  interested  in  the  livery  business 
here. 

He  married  in  1905  Miss  Geneva  Titsworth,  a daughter  of  a former 
druggist  of  Mount  Victory,  Richard  Titsworth,  but  he  is  now  living 
retired.  Her  mother  is  Ernestine  (Johnson)  Titsworth.  Mr.  Lydick 
has  membership  with  both  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Odd  Fellows 
fraternities,  and  he  has  served  in  all  the  offices  of  the  latter  order  at 
Dunkirk. 

Dr.  Brayton  Albert  Martin  has  the  distinction  of  being  one  of  the 
oldest  practicing  physicians  of  Hardin  county,  and  he  is  well  known 
within  its  borders  and  is  prominently  identified  with  the  life  and  interests 
of  Mt.  Victory.  He  was  born  in  Windham  county,  Connecticut, 
February  5,  1836,  a son  of  Ilosea  and  a grandson  of  John  Martin,  both 
of  whom  were  born  in  the  old  historic  homestead  of  the  Martins  in 
Windham  county.  The  latter’s  father  came  to  this  country  from  Ireland, 
and  he  established  his  home  in  Connecticut.  John  Martin  served  his 
country  as  a soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  Hosea  Martin,  born  in  1796, 
lived  to  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years.  He  was  both  a farmer  and  school 
teacher,  performing  his  first  professional  work  for  six  dollars  a month, 
and  he  continued  teaching  for  four  years.  At  the  age  of  forty  he  was 
made  the  general  manager  of  a company  engaged  in  the  grist  milling 
business,  and  afterward  returning  to  farming  he  continued  that  voca- 
tion until  his  death.  He  was  a Democrat  in  his  political  views,  and  he 
held  many  of  the  minor  offices  of  his  county.  Hosea  Martin  married 
Beulah  Slater,  who  was  born  in  1800  and  died  at  the  agevof  ninety-three. 
She  was  a daughter  of  Silas  and  Mary  Ann  (Burgess)  Slater,  a grand- 
daughter of  Silas  Slater,  who  lived  to  the  remarkable  age  of  one  hundred 
and  four  years,  and  a great-granddaughter  of  Silas  Slater,  who  was  the 
founder  of  cotton  spinning  in  America.  He  manufactured  his  own 
machinery,  and  Slaterville,  Rhode  Island,  took  its  name  from  this 
factory.  The  children  born  to  Ilosea  and  Beulah  Martin  are:  William, 
a machinist,  who  died  in  Windham  county,  Connecticut;  John,  Silas  and 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


469 


Henry,  all  of  whom  were  farmers  in  Windham  county,  Connecticut,  and 
all  are  now  deceased;  Hazel  B.,  a musician  in  New  London,  Connecticut; 
Brayton  A. ; Emily,  the  widow  of  W.  Solsbury  and  who  is  living  at 
Waupank,  Connecticut;  Mary  Rood,  deceased,  who  lived  in  Windham 
county,  Connecticut;  Susan,  the  wife  of  Jerry  Boswell,  of  Sterling,  that 
state;  and  Sylvia,  the  wife  of  Jerry  Anderson,  of  Dennisville, 
Connecticut, 

After  leaving  the  public  schools  Brayton  A.  Martin  attended  for 
one  year  the  academy  at  Danielsonville,  Windham  county,  Connecticut, 
and  then  coming  west  he  located  in  Union  county,  Ohio,  where  lie  studied 
medicine  for  three  years,  and  after  two  years  at  the  Starling  Medical 
College,  Columbus,  he  graduated  in  medicine  in  1869,  and  at  once  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Byhalia  in  Union  county.  After 
twenty  years  there  he  went  to  Brooklyn,  Illinois,  four  years  later  to 
Timewell,  Illinois,  thence  after  twelve  years  to  Missouri,  four  years 
afterward  returned  to  Timewell,  and  then  two  years  later  came  to  Mt. 
Victory.  He  has  practiced  here  to  the  present  time,  one  of  the  loved 
family  physicians  of  Hardin  county.  Dr.  Martin  served  Washington 
township,  Union  county,  as  a treasurer  for  one  term,  and  while  practicing 
at  Byhalia  he  was  appointed  the  postmaster  under  Cleveland’s  adminis- 
tration. He  is  a member  of  the  Hardin  County  State  and  American 
Medical  Societies. 

The  Doctor  married  first  Elizabeth  Martin,  and  she  died  at  the  age 
of  twenty-five  years,  leaving  a daughter,  Mary  Luella,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  six  years.  He  was  then  married  to  Margaret  Haines,  who  bore 
him  a daughter,  Lula,  wife  of  Clyde  McCall,  a Hardin  county  farmer, 
and  this  second  wife  died  at  the  age  of  thirty  years.  His  third  mar- 
riage was  to  Anna  Keller,  who  was  born  in  1867,  a daughter  of  Henry 
Harrison  Sells,  a farmer  in  McDonough  county,  Illinois.  Dr.  Martin 
is  a member  of  the  Masonic  order,  affiliating  with  both  the  Blue  Lodge 
and  the  Royal  Arch.  In  politics  he  is  a supporter  of  the  principles  of 
the  Democratic  party. 


Robert  C.  Greene,  deceased,  who  lived  many  years  in  Taylor  town- 
ship, Union  county,  Ohio,  was  a native  of  Vermont.  His  mother,  Mrs. 
Sallie  Greene,  lived  to  the  remarkable  age  of  ninety-eight  years,  and  dur- 
ing the  last  forty-three  years  of  her  life  was  totally  blind. 

In  the  fall  of  1837  Robert  C.  Greene  and  his  wife  moved  to  Ohio, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1838  they  located  in  Taylor  township,  Union  county, 
on  Mill  Creek,  near  James  Hamilton.  In  1840  they  located  in  the 
western  part  of  the  same  township,  where  they  spent  the  remainder  of 
their  lives.  Before  he  came  to  Ohio  Mr.  Greene  married  Ruth  Draper, 
who  died  January  16,  1859,  and  he  afterward  married  Mrs.  Mary  Fink, 
who  died  February  28,  1865,  at  the  age  of  sixty-three  years.  Mr. 
Greene  died  July  28,  1864,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years.  He  was  well 
known  in  the  community,  where  he  had  a large  circle  of  friends,  and  was 
deeply  mourned  by  his  family.  He  had  children  as  follows:  Elizabeth, 
Ira,  Ruth  (deceased),  John  C.,  Gideon,  Robert  B.,  Henry  E.  (deceased), 
Sarah  and  Nancy  A.  Elizabeth  married  Isaac  Sanaft.  Ira  married 


470 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Elizabeth  Shirk,  and  after  her  death  he  married  Phebe  Heath,  who  also 
died,  and  he  married  a third  time  in  Indiana,  to  whom  it  is  not  known. 
John  C.  married  Amanda  King.  Gideon  died  young.  Robert  B. 
married  Eliza  Johnson,  who  died,  and  lie  married  for  his  second  wife 
Mary  Roberts;  he  now  resides  in  Kansas.  Sarah  married  Thomas 
Yearsley,  a sketch  of  whom  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Nancy  A. 
married  T.  Lewis  Temple,  and  resides  in  Kansas. 

Archie  Warren  Titsworth. — During  a number  of  years  past  Dr. 
Archie  Warren  Titsworth  has  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine 
at  Mt.  Victory,  and  in  this  time  has  become  one  of  the  skilled  physicians 
of  Hardin  county.  lie  was  born  in  this  city  on  the  8th  of  July,  1871, 
a son  of  Richard  Leuriek  Titsworth,  one  of  six  children ; the  others  are 
Nellie,  deceased;  Geneva,  the  wife  of  Frank  Lydick,  who  is  also  repre- 
sented iu  this  work;  Helen,  at  home  with  her  parents;  Horace,  a druggist 
in  Mt.  Victory ; and  Richard,  a telegraph  operator  in  LaRue,  this  state. 

After  he  had  attained  his  eighteenth  year  Dr.  Titsworth  entered  a 
school  of  pharmacy,  also  clerking  in  the  meantime,  and  graduating  and 
returning  home  in  1889  he  became  associated  with  D.  M.  Odaffer,  a 
druggist  at  Marion,  Ohio.  After  five  years  as  a druggist  there  he 
entered  the  Ohio  Medical  College  at  Cincinnati  in  1894,  and  graduating 
therefrom  in  1896  he  began  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession  in  his 
home  town  of  Mt.  Victory.  He  is  progressive  and  thorough  in  all 
matters  pertaining  to  his  calling,  and  he  is  identified  prominently  with 
the  Hardin  County,  the  Ohio  State  and  the  American  Medical  Associa- 
tions, and  during  two  years  he  filled  the  office  of  vice  president  of  the  last 
named  society.  He  is  the  present  health  officer  of  his  township  and  the 
coroner  of  Hardin  county. 

Dr.  Titsworth  married  Miss  Carrie  Bell  Boyd,  a daughter  of  James 
Milton  and  Mary  (Griffith)  Boyd.  Mr.  Boyd  is  a real  estate  operator, 
capitalist  and  manufacturer  of  Mt.  Victory.  Mr.  Boyd  was  born 
December  19,  1853,  in  Union  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  he  was  but  two 
years  old  when  his  parents,  James  William  Boyd  and  Elizabeth  Witcroft, 
settled  in  Hardin  county,  Ohio.  He  married  Mary  Griffith,  a daughter 
of  J.  and  Mary  (Clyburn)  Griffith,  natives  of  Highland  county.  Mrs. 
Boyd  died  in  1901,  at  the  age  of  fifty-one  years.  A son,  Boyd  Blair 
Titsworth,  was  born  to  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Titsworth  on  the  10th  of  January, 
1906.  The  Doctor  is  an  active  worker  in  the  local  ranks  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  he  is  aPo  prominently  associated  with  the  Maccabees 
fraternity,  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Elks  and  during 
the  past  ten  years  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  Mt.  Victory  Lodge 
No.  734. 

Charles  B.  Fink  is  numbered  among  the  essentially  representative 
business  men  of  his  native  city  of  Kenton  and  is  successfully  conducting 
the  flourishing  enterprise  with  which  his  father  was  identified  for  many 
years  before  his  death.  He  is  a son  of  the  late  Benedict  Fink  to  whom 
a memoir  is  dedicated  on  other  pages  of  this  work,  so  that  a reiteration 
of  the  data  is  not  demanded  in  the  present  connection.  The  establish- 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


471 


ment  of  which  Mr.  Fink  is  the  proprietor  is  one  of  the  leading  retail 
houses  of  the  thriving  city  of  Kenton,  and  in  the  same  is  carried  a large 
and  select  stock  of  dry  goods,  notions,  carpets,  rugs,  draperies  and  also 
musical  instruments. 

Charles  Benedict  Fink  was  born  in  Kenton  on  the  17tli  of  March, 
1865,  and  is  the  only  son  and  younger  child  of  Benedict  and  Martha 
(Moy)  Fink.  He  was  reared  to  manhood  in  Kenton,  to  whose  public 
schools  he  is  indebted  for  his  early  educational  discipline  and  this  city 
has  ever  been  his  home  and  represented  the  scene  of  his  successful 
endeavors  as  a business  man.  Upon  attaining  to  his  legal  majority,  in 
1886,  he  was  admitted  to  partnership  by  his  honored  father,  with  whom 
he  continued  to  be  associated  until  the  death  of  the  latter  in  1905,  since 
which  time  lie  has  individually  conducted  a large  and  prosperous  busi- 
ness which  is  based  on  a long  maintained  reputation  for  fair  and  honor- 
able dealings  and  to  which  is  accorded  a thoroughly  representative 
patronage.  Mr.  Fink  himself  has  thus  been  identified  with  the  local 
business  interests  for  nearly  a quarter  of  a century  and,  like  his  father, 
he  has  never  lacked  the  unqualified  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  people 
of  his  native  city  and  county.  He  is  a member  of  the  directorate  of  the 
Kenton  Savings  Bank  and  also  of  that  of  the  Home  Savings  and  Loan 
Company  of  Kenton.  As  will  be  noted  by  reference  to  the  memoir  of 
his  father,  Mr.  Fink  is  a scion  of  one  of  the  old  and  honored  pioneer 
families  of  this  section  of  the  state,  with  whose  initial  development  his 
grandfather,  Benedict  Fink,  was  prominently  identified,  having  been  one 
of  the  early  farmers  of  Pleasant  township,  where  he  reclaimed  a consider- 
able tract  of  land  from  the  virgin  forest. 

Charles  B.  Fink  and  his  wife  are  identified  with  the  social  activities 
of  their  home  city,,  where  their  circle  of  friends  is  limited  only  by  that  of 
their  acquaintances,  and  their  attractive  home  is  the  center  of  gracious 
and  generous  hospitality.  In  the  time-honored  Masonic  fraternity  Mr. 
Fink  has  attained  to  the  Thirty-second  degree  of  the  Ancient  and  Accep- 
ted Scottish  Rite.  His  York  Rite  affiliations  are  with  the  organizations 
in  Kenton.  He  is  also  identified  with  Allaclin  Temple,  Ancient  Arabic 
Order  of  the  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine  in  the  city  of  Columbus,  Ohio ; 
with  Kenton  Lodge  No.  157,  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks ; 
and  also  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

On  the  24th  of  October,  1888,  was  recorded  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Fink 
to  Miss  Sallie  Strong,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  Hardin  county  and 
who  is  a daughter  of  Colonel  L.  and  Mary  (Milliman)  Strong.  The 
former,  now  deceased,  was  an  influential  and  honored  citizen  of  this 
section  of  the  state.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fink  have  one  son,  Frederick  Strong 
Fink. 

Dr.  Frank  Humphreys  is  numbered  among  the  successful  medical 
practitioners  of  Hardin  county,  practicing  at  Mt.  Victory,  and  he  also 
represents  one  of  the  county’s  pioneer  families.  He  was  born  in  Logan 
county,  Ohio,  near  East  Liberty,  September  30,  1856,  a son  of  Shepherd 
Green  Humphreys  and  a grandson  of  Jacob  Humphreys.  His  paternal 
great-grandfather  came  to  this  country  from  Wales  and  located  in 


472 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Virginia.  Jacob  Humphreys  died  in  1862  at  Somerset,  Kentucky,  of 
typhoid  fever,  being  then  sixty-one  years  of  age.  He  was  born  in 
Virginia,  and  during  the  early  years  of  his  life  he  farmed  and  drove  a 
mercantile  wagon  between  East  Liberty  and  Cincinnati.  At  the  age  of 
sixty  years  he  enlisted  for  the  Civil  war,  and  served  until  his  death  as  a 
first  lieutenant,  while  previously  he  had  served  as  captain  of  a party  in 
Logan  county,  Ohio,  called  the  “Wide  Awakes.”  He  attained  a high 
place  in  the  ranks  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  being  a charter  member  of 
the  order  at  East  Liberty.  His  wife,  nee  Margaret  Green,  died  in  1825. 

Shepherd  Green  Humphreys,  born  October  13,  1829,  is  a son  of 
Jacob  and  Margaret  (Green)  Humphreys.  After  leaving  the  school 
room  he  followed  farming  on  his  father’s  farm  and  also  conducted  a saw 
mill  until  his  marriage.  During  several  years  he  operated  by  water 
power  a carding  machine.  In  1858  he  came  to  Mt.  Victory,  peddling 
stoves  throughout  the  county  for  some  time  afterward  and  during  the 
Civil  war  lie  bought  horses  for  the  government.  He  also  enlisted  for 
service  for  one  hundred  days,  joining  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty- 
fifth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  was  sent  to  Harper’s  Ferry  and  finally 
mustered  out  of  the  ranks.  Following  his  return  home  he  resumed  his 
business  operations  and  later  embarked  in  general  mercantile  pursuits 
at  Mt.  Victory,  while  in  1893  he  retired  from  an  active  business  life  and 
he  died  on  the  13th  of  April,  1909,  aged  seventy -nine  years  and  six 
months.  He  was  a man  of  the  highest  integrity  of  character,  and  was 
one.  of  the  honored,  early  residents  of  Hardin  county.  He  served  his 
church  at  Mt.  Victory,  the  Methodists,  for  many  years  as  a trustee.  His 
political  affiliations  were  with  the  Republican  party,  and  he  filled  the 
offices  of  overseer,  trustee,  township  treasurer  and  corporation  treasurer, 
acting  in  the  interests  of  his  city.  On  the  7th  of  April,  1852,  Shepherd 
G.  Humphreys  was  joined  in  marriage  with  Martha  Elizabeth  Titsworth, 
who  was  born  in  Union  county,  Ohio,  in  1831,  and  died  on  the  3d  of 
December,  1893,  a daughter  of  Lemuel  and  Mary  Titsworth,  who  moved 
from  Union  to  Logan  county,  Ohio.  There  were  a daughter  and  two 
sons  in  the  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Humphreys,  and  Mary,  the  daughter, 
is  the  wife  of  A.  L.  Sullivan,  living  in  Lincoln,  Nebraska.  Shepherd  M. 
Humphreys  is  a telegraph  operator  at  Maysville,  Kentucky. 

Dr.  Frank  Humphreys,  the  second  born  child,  after  leaving  the  pub- 
lic* schools  at  the  age  of  seventeen  entered  Xenia  College,  where  he 
studied  for  two  years,  and  from  1877  for  three  years  he  was  principal  of 
the  Augusta  schools.  While  filling  that  position  he  began  the  study  of 
medicine  with  Dr.  R.  L.  Sweeney  in  Marion,  with  whom  he  remained  for 
six  years,  and  following  his  graduation  from  the  Ohio  Medical  College 
on  the  1st  of  March,  1882,  he  located  at  Mt.  Victory  and  began  the  active 
practice  of  his  chosen  profession.  After  a time,  however,  he  received 
the  state  appointment  as  physician  to  the  Dayton  Hospital,  which  he 
filled  for  two  years,  and  returning  to  Mt.  Victory  he  practiced  here  for 
two  years,  going  then  to  Hamilton  county  and  conducting  a sanitarium 
at  Madisonville  until  1895,  was  then  in  practice  two  years  in  Cincinnati 
and  again  returning  to  Mt.  Victory  he  has  since  remained  in  continuous 
practice  here. 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


473 


Dr.  Humphreys  married  in  1897  Viola  Stoms,  born  November  19, 
1867,  a daughter  of  Edmond  and  Susan  L.  (Trotter)  Stoms.  The 
father  died  in  Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  but  the  mother  survives  and  is  a 
resident  of  Mt.  Washington.  Edmond  Stoms  was  a son  of  William  and 
Eliza  (Mears)  Stoms,  the  former  the  founder  of  the  large  seed  house  of 
Hale  and  Stoms  at  Cincinnati.  The  Rev.  Francis  McCormick,  great- 
grandfather of  Mrs.  Humphreys,  was  an  old  Virginian  who  freed  his 
slaves  and  came  to  Ohio,  becoming  one  of  the  early  circuit  riders  of 
Hamilton  county.  Dr.  Humphreys  is  a member,  a trustee  and  the 
treasurer  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  he  has  been  a member 
of  the  Masonic  order  since  the  age  of  twenty-one,  affiliating  with  Kenton 
Latham  Lodge  No.  154.  He  is  also  associated  with  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  at  Mt.  Victory,  with  the  Mt.  Victory  Knights  of 
the  Maccabees,  and  with  the  County,  State  and  American  Medical 
Societies.  He  has  one  of  the  largest  medical  practices  in  Mt.  Victory, 
and  he  owns  one  of  the  largest  farms  in  Hale  township. 

John  Morrison  was  for  many  years  identified  with  the  agricultural 
life  of  Hardin  county,  but  in  later  years  he  has  put  aside  an  active 
business  life  and  is  now  living  retired  at  his  pleasant  home  in  Mt. 
Victory.  He  was  born  in  Delaware  county,  Ohio,  on  the  2d  of  Novem- 
ber, 1846.  a son  of  Gryan  Morrison  and  a grandson  on  the  paternal  side 
of  Robert  Morrison,  who  was  born  in  Virginia  and  was  a life-long  agricul- 
turist. He  died  in  the  year  1812.  Mr.  Morrison,  the  father,  was  horn 
in  Virginia  in  1811,  but  when  he  was  hut  two  years  old  the  family  came 
to  Harrison  county,  Ohio,  and  later  to  Union  county,  where  he  farmed 
until  his  death  in  1864.  Before  his  marriage  he  had  also  been  engaged 
in  mercantile  pursuits  in  Delaware  county.  He  affiliated  with  the 
Democratic  party,  and  held  the  public  offices  of  his  township.  Mr. 
Morrison  married  Margrette  Berkley,  who  was  born  in  1821  and  died,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-six  years.  She  was  a daughter  of  Samuel  Berkley,  a 
farmer  and  distiller  at  Bellpoint,  Delaware  county,  and  of  Susan  (Hultz) 
Berkley.  The  children  of  this  union  are:  Joseph,  a farmer  in  Union 
county:  Susan  Ellen,  the  wife  of  J.  Smart,  of  West  Mansfield;  Joseph- 
ine wife  of  H.  Fredericks,  a farmer  in  Union  county;  and  John. 

After  leaving  the  school  room  at  the  age  of  eighteen  John  Morrison 
lived  with  his  mother  on  the  home  farm  until  he  had  attained  the  age 
of  twenty-three,  and  he  then  married  and  located  on  a farm  near  New 
Dover.  After  two  years  there  he  went  to  a farm  near  Belief ontaine, 
where  he  remained  for.  another  two  years,  returning  to  the  old  home- 
stead and  two  years  later  he  went  to  the  old  Benton  farm  near  Marys- 
ville and  lived  there  for  three  years,  when  he  returned  once  more  to 
the  Morrison  homestead,  and  after  two  years  there  and  on  other  farms 
near  East  Liberty  he  came  to  Hardin  county,  near  Ridgeway.  Here 
he  successfully  followed  agricultural  pursuits  until  after  the  death  of 
his  wife,  and  has  since  lived  retired.  He  has  been  a member  of  the 
Disciples  church  at  Ridgeway  for  many  years,  and  has  served  his  re- 
ligious home  as  a deacon.  He  is  also  affiliated  with  the  Democratic 
party  and  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  fraternity  at  Ridgeway. 


474 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


In  1870.  Morrison  was  married  to  Drusilla  Ely,  who  was  born  in 
Logan  county,  Ohio,  November  2,  1845,  a daughter  of  Joseph  Ely,  a 
Logan  county  farmer  for  many  years  but  a native  son  of  Maryland, 
and  of  Anna  Piercy  Lemen,  his  wife.  The  mother  died  in  1849,  and 
for  his  second  wife  Mr.  Ely  married  Phoebe  Henry,  to  whom  nine  child- 
ren were  born  but  only  the  following  three  are  living:  William  Ely, 
living  in  West  Mansfield;  Cary  Ely,  of  the  same  place;  and  Elma  Jane, 
the  wife  of  A.  Arbeghast,  living  in  Zanesfield,  this  state.  Mrs.  Morri- 
son was  the  youngest  of  the  nine  children  born  of  her  father’s  first 
marriage,  but  only  two  daughters  are  now  living,  Rebecca,  wife  of  H. 
Marlmard,  of  Seattle,  Washington,  and  Hulda,  the  wife  of  Samuel 
Simpson,  of  West  Mansfield.  Three  children  blessed  the  marriage 
union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morrison,  namely:  J.  Hartley  Morrison  engaged 
in  the  hay  business  at  Mt.  Victory,  and  he  married  Bessie  Walos  and 
has  two  children,  Clara  and  Helen ; Nona  Margaret,  the  wife  of  George 
Walos,  a farmer  in  Logan  county,  and  their  three  children  are  Mabel, 
Ruth  and  Harold  Morrison;  and  Vesta,  the  wife  of  Frank  Dille,  a far- 
mer in  Hale  township,  and  their  four  children  are  Clair,  Dwight, 
Leonora  and  Wilburt.  Mrs.  Morrison  was  a member  of  the  Baptist 
church  and  later  of  the  Disciple  church,  and  she  died  on  the  6th  of 
November,  1907,  after  an  illness  of  eighteen  months.  Her  life  was 
beautiful  in  its  purity,  goodness  and  Christian  virtues,  and  her  memory 
will  long  remain  with  those  who  knew  her  best. 

Oliver  Ellsworth  Perry. — A citizen  of  prominence  and  influence 
is  actively  identified  with  the  financial  interests  of  Ridgeway  as  cashier 
of  the  Ridgeway  Banking  Company,  with  which  he  has  been  officially 
associated  during  the  past  seven  years.  A son  of  Henry  Perry,  he  was 
born,  February  27,  1861,  in  Delaware  county,  coming  from  thrifty 
Welsh  ancestry. 

His  grandfather,  Robert  Perry,  was  born  and  brought  up  in  Wales, 
as  a youth  following  the  sea.  In  early  manhood  he  emigrated  to 
America,  being  accompanied  on  his  ocean  voyage  by  a sister.  Settling 
as  a pioneer  in  the  Avilds  of  Ohio,  he  was  much  pleased  with  the  future 
possibilities  of  his  new  home,  and  made  ready  to  return  to  Wales  to 
bring  back  with  him  the  remainder  of  the  family,  but  on  reaching 
Baltimore,  the  port  from  which  he  aaus  to  sail,  he  was  accidently  brought 
face  to  face  with  his  mother,  avIio  had  followed  him  on  a later  vessel, 
arriving  in  this  country  in  1803.  He  located  in  Delaware  county,  this 
state,  and  having  by  dint  of  true  pioneer  labor  cleared  a homestead 
from  the  forest,  was  subsequently  engaged  in  tilling  the  soil  until  his 
death.  The  maiden  name  of  his  Avife  was  Margaret  Hoskins. 

Henry  Perry  Avas  born  in  Delaware  county,  Ohio,  March  4,  1819, 
and  greAv  to  manhood  on  the  parental  homestead,  in  the  improvement 
of  which  he  assisted.  Becoming  a farmer  from  choice,  he  met  Avit.h  good 
success  in  his  vocation,  spending  his  last  years  on  his  finely  improved 
farm  in  Logan  county,  his  death  occurring  in  July,  1889.  He  learned 
the  trade  of  a brick  maker  and  burner  when  young,  and  followed  it  to 
some  extent  in  connection  with  farming.  He  was  one  of  the  sub- 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


475 


stantial  men  of  his  community,  and  a member  of  the  Ancient  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons.  He  married  Martha  Lavender,  who  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  November  28,  1821.  Her  parents,  Thomas  and  Eliza- 
beth (Streeter)  Lavender  came  from  England  to  Pennsylvania  in  1818, 
her  mother  died  in  Chambersburg,  Pennsylvania,  in  1823,  in  early  wom- 
anhood, while  her  father  came  to  Delaware  county,  Ohio,  improved  a 
farm  on  the  Scioto  river  where  he  died  after  attaining  the  venerable  age 
of  eighty-three  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  Perry  reared  four  children, 
as  follows:  Ella,  wife  of  Ct.  W.  Stevens,  of  Delaware  county,  Ohio; 

Margaret,  living  with  her  widowed  mother;  Oliver  Ellsworth;  and  A.  T. 
who  died  in  Marion,  Ohio,  in  1906. 

Leaving  school  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  Oliver  E.  Perry  assisted 
his  father  on  the  farm  for  five  years,  after  which  he  taught  school  two 
terms,  the  latter  one  in  Kansas.  Returning  from  that  state  to  Ohio  he 
bought  land  in  Logan  county,  and  was  there  profitably  employed  in 
agricultural  pursuits  from  1887  until  1903.  Coming  in  that  year  to 
Ridgeway,  Mr.  Perry  accepted  his  position  as  cashier  of  the  Ridgeway 
Banking  Company,  and  has  since  performed  the  duties  devolving  upon 
him  in  this  capacity  in  a most  efficient  manner,  his  financial  ability  being 
recognized  and  appreciated.  Politically  a Democrat,  Mr.  Perry  is  active 
in  party  affairs,  and  at  the  present  time  is  serving  as  town  treasurer. 

On  December  28,  1893,  Mr.  Perry  married  Louisa  E.  Gantt,  who 
was  born  August  25,  1875,  a daughter  of  D.  H.  and  Margaret  (Kennedy) 
Gantt,  residents  of  Hardin  county.  Eight  children  have  blessed  the 
union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Perry,  namely:  Alice,  Dorothy,  Robert,  John, 
Edward,  Francis  and  Martha  and  Merret,  twins. 

Judge  John  Rambo  Selders. — Prominent  among  the  most  highly 
respected  and  valued  citizens  of  Ridgeway  is  Judge  John  Rambo  Selders, 
ex-judge  of  the  probate  court,  and  now,  in  1910,  serving  as  mayor  of 
this  city.  He  was  born  October  16,  1838,  in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  coming 
on  the  paternal  side  from  French  ancestry,  being  a son  of  Hugh  Selders. 
His  grandfather,  John  Selders,  a native  of  France,  came  as  a boy  to  this 
country,  and-  was  brought  up  in  Pennsylvania,  near  Philadelphia.  He 
married  Mary  A.  Latimer,  and  was  subsequently  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  locating  at  New  Concord,  where  he 
cleared  and  improved  a farm,  on  which  both  he  and  his  wife  spent  their 
remaining  days.  He  was  a member  of  the  Covenanters  church. 

Hugh  Selders  was  born  in  New  Concord,  Ohio,  in  1800,  and 
obtained  his  education  in  the  pioneer  schools  of  his  day.  He  remained 
beneath  the  parental  roof  tree  until  twenty-two  years  of  age,  and  then 
began  his  life  as  an  independent  farmer  in  Logan  county.  Continuing  as 
an  agriculturist  until  1866,  he  and  his  wife,  both  of  whom  were  well  ad- 
vanced in  years,  went  to  live  with  a son,  remaining  with  him  the  rest  of 
their  lives.  He  was  a strong  abolitionist,  active  in  the  work  of  freeing  the 
slaves,  being  in  hearty  sympathy  with  such  grand  men  as  Garrison  and 
Phillips,  and  was  a member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church.  The 
maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Nancy  Rambo.  She  was  born  in  Muskingum 


476 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


county.  Ohio,  a daughter  of  Thomas  Rambo,  a soldier  in  the  war  of  1812, 
and  who  married  Elizabeth  Campbell. 

The  only  survivor  of  a family  of  nine  children,  John  Rambo 
Selders  received  his  elementary  education  in  the  public  schools,  after 
which  he  took  a special  course  at  Geneva  college.  He  learned  the  car- 
penter’s trade,  and  afterwards  taught  school  for  thirteen  years  in 
Ridgeway  and  vicinity,  which  has  been  his  home  since  1858.  On  June 
5,  1861.  he  enlisted  in  Company  F,  Twenty-third  Ohio  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, which  was  assigned  to  McClellan’s  Division  of  the  army,  and 
took  part  in  the  engagements  throughout  the  Shenandoah  valley.  He 
was  twice  taken  prisoner,  but  each  time  had  the  good  fortune  to  escape. 
The  regiment  to  which  lie  belonged  had  two  distinguished  commanders, 
men  who  afterwards  became  presidents  of  the  United  States,  Rutherford 
R.  llayes  and  William  McKinley.  In  1865,  at  close  of  the  war,  Mr.  Sel- 
ders received  his  honorable  discharge  and  was  mustered  out  at  Cleveland. 

Returning  to  Ridgeway  he  taught  school  three  terms,  and  then 
moved  to  Kenton,  where,  in  1875,  he  was  elected  probate  judge, 
a position  that  he  filled  ably  and  wisely  until  1882.  Returning  then 
to  Ridgeway,  Judge  Selders  was  for  five  years  employed  in  agricultural 
pursuits,  the  following  seven  years  being  interested  in  the  oil  regions 
near  Lima,  where  he  located  during  the  oil  boom  of  1887.  Coming  back 
then  to  Hardin  county,  the  judge  purchased  land  at  Taylor’s  Creek, 
and  managed  it  successfully  for  a few  years,  when  he  sold  out,  and  has 
since  lived  retired  from  active  pursuits  in  Ridgeway.  He  is  an  active 
member  in  the  Democratic  party,  and  in  1909  was  elected  mayor  of 
Ridgeway,  and  is  serving  with  credit  to  himself  and  to  the  honor  of  his 
constituents.  He  is  one  of  the  leading  members  of  the  E.  I.  G.  Post, 
No.  753,  G.  A.  R.,  of  which  he  has  been  commander  two  terms,  and 
belongs  to  the  Disciples  church,  in  which  he  is  an  elder. 

Judge  Selders  married,  on  the  24th  of  December,  1865,  Mary  A. 
McCullough,  who  was  born  March  19,  1844,  a daughter  of  Alexander  and 
Mary  (Sweitzer)  McCullough.  To  the  Judge  and  Mrs.  Selders  four 
children  have  been  born,  namely:  Ida,  wife  of  D.  S.  Bird,  of  Findlay, 
Ohio;  Carrie  E.,  who  married  Alexander  Van  Sky,  of  Hardin  county,  and 
they  had  six  children ; Nettie,  who  became  the  wife  of  Louis  Conner, 
and  died  in  January,  1905.  leaving  three  children ; and  Effie  married 
William  Ward,  and  died  in  1894. 

Benedict  Fink. — Success  is  the  prerogative  of  valiant  souls,  and 
those  endowed  with  definite  energy,  ambition  and  determination  will 
overcome  obstacles  seemingly  insuperable.  It  was  given  the  late 
Benedict  Fink,  who  was  a member  of  one  of  the  sterling  pioneer  families 
of  Hardin  county,  to  achieve  through  personal  effort  a large  and  generous 
measure  of  success  in  connection  with  business  affairs  and  to  make  for 
himself  a secure  vantage  place  in  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  people 
of  the  county  which  represented  his  home  during  the  major  portion  of 
his  life.  Marked  by  inviolable  integrity  in  all  its  relations,  his  life  was 
one  that  counted  for  good  and  his  ability  enabled  him  to  advance  to 
prominence  as  one  of  the  most  substantial  business  men  of  the  city  of 


BENEDICT  FINK 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


477 


Kenton,  where  his  interests  were  varied  and  of  important  order.  In  this 
city  his  death  occurred  on  the  8th  of  October,  1905,  and  his  name  is  held 
in  gracious  memory  by  all  who  knew  him  and  had  cognizance  of  his 
sterling  attributes  of  character. 

Benedict  Fink  was  born  in  Buetigen,  Switzerland,  on  the  17th  of 
January,  1830,  and  was  the  son  of  Benedict  and  Mary  Fink,  of  whose  six 
children  he  was  the  eldest.  He  received  the  rudiments  of  his  education 
in  his  native  land  and  was  about  seven  years  of  age  when,  in  1837,  his 
parents  immigrated  and  the  family  passed  the  first  winter  in  the  city  of 
Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania.  In  the  spring  of  1838  they  set  forth  with  team 
and  wagon  for  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  making  the  entire  journey  by  means 
of  this  primitive  equipment,  as  this  was  long  before  the  time  of  railroad 
accommodations.  Three  weeks  were  consumed  in  making  the  trip  and 
to  reach  the  place  selected  for  a homestead  they  were  compelled  to  fell 
trees  and  clear  out  underbrush  to  effect  a passage  through  the  forest. 
The  father  secured  a tract  of  available  timber  land  in  Pleasant  township, 
about  two  miles  north  of  Kenton,  which  was  then  a mere  hamlet  in  the 
midst  of  the  forest.  He  reclaimed  a farm  from  the  Avilderness  and  was 
one  of  the  well-known  and  highly  honored  pioneers  of  Hardin  county, 
where  both  he  and  his  wife  continued  to  reside  until  their  death. 

Benedict  Fink,  the  immediate  subject  of  this  memoir,  was  essen- 
tially a self-made  man,  and  owing  to  exigencies  of  time  and  place,  his 
educational  advantages  in  his  youth  were  somewhat  meagre,  being 
limited  to  desultory  attendance  in  the  primitive  pioneer  schools.  He  had 
his  full  quota  of  experience  in  connection  with  the  reclamation  and  devel- 
opment of  the  home  farm,  and  his  boyhood  and  youth  were  marked  by 
“ceaseless  toil  and  endeavor.”  He  continued  to  be  associated  in  the 
work  and  management  of  the  homestead  until  1850,  when,  at  the  age  of 
twenty  years,  he  located,  in  Kenton,  where  he  secured  employment  as 
errand  boy  and  general  clerk  in  the  store  of  Bromberger  & Jones.  In 
this  connection  was  gained  his  initial  business  experience,  and  here  his 
course  was -early  marked  by  that  fidelity,  determination  and  aggressive- 
ness which  eventually  conserved  his  distinctive  individual  success  as 
a business  man.  Throughout  his  whole  life  it  may  well  be  said  that  his 
word  was  as  good  as  any  bond,  and  no  citizen  of  the  county  has  ever 
commanded  more  unequivocal  popular  confidence,  though  his  directness 
and  inflexibility  in  following  the  course  which  he  believed  to  be  right, 
at  times  promoted  temporary  antagonisms.  After  having  been  employed 
for  a few  years  by  the  firm  mentioned,  Mr.  Fink  entered  into  partner- 
ship alliance  with  John  A.  Shectala  and  purchased  the  store  of  Robert 
Russell,  who  had  succeeded  to  the  business  of  Bromberger  & Jones.  This 
association  continued  for  a few  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which  Mr. 
Fink  purchased  his  partner’s  interest  in  the  enterprise,  which  he  there- 
after conducted  in  an  individual  way.  In  1877  he  erected  and  moved  his 
stock  into  the  building  in  which  the  business  has  since  been  continued. 
This  building  stands  on  the  site  of  the  store  in  which  he  gained  his  first 
experience  as  a business  man,  and  the  enterprise  with  which  he  was  so 
long  identified  is  now  conducted  by  his  son,  Charles  B.  Fink,  of  whom 
specific  mention  is  made  on  other  pages  of  this  work. 

Vol.  II— 3 


478 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


In  addition  with  his  connection  with  the  general  merchandise  busi- 
ness, as  already  noted.  Air.  Fink’s  enterprising  and  progressive  spirit 
led  him  to  identify  himself  with  other  business  interests  that  materially 
conserved  the  commercial  and  industrial  prestige  of  his  home  city.  He 
was  vice-president  of  the  Home  Savings  and  Loan  Company  from  the 
time  of  its  inception  until  his  death,  and  for  many  years  he  was  also  a 
valued  member  of  the  directorate  of  the  Kenton  Savings  Bank.  He 
was  essentially  public-spirited  and  loyal  as  a citizen,  and  his  aid  and 
influence  were  ever  given  in  support  of  measures  and  enterprises  tend- 
ing to  advance  the  general  welfare  of  the  community.  For  eighteen 
years  he  served  as  member  of  the  Kenton  Board  of  Education,  and  within 
his  incumbency  of  this  position  he  maintained  an  advanced  attitude  in 
bringing  educational  facilities  of  the  city  up  to  the  highest  possible 
standard,  having  ably  advocated  the  erection  of  new  and  properly 
equipped  buildings  and  having  in  divers  other  ways  proved  his  vital 
interest  in  educational  affairs. 

In  the  year  I860  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Fink  to  Miss 
Martha  Moy,  who  was  born  in  Diesbach,  Switzerland,  and  the  two  chil- 
dren of  this  union  were  Laura  Moy,  of  Kenton,  and  Charles  Benedict 
Fink,  a brief  record  of  whose  career  appears  on  other  pages  of  this  work. 
The  devoted  wife  and  mother,  who  was  held  in  affectionate  regard  by  all 
who  came  within  the  sphere  of  her  gracious  influence,  was  consigned  to 
rest  on  October  25,  1891. 

Joseph  Yearsley,  an  extensive  dealer  and  shipper  of  hay  and 
straw  living  in  Mt.  Victory,  Ohio,  was  born  November  1,  1864,  in  Union 
county,  Ohio.  He  is  a son  of  Thomas  and  Sarah  (Green)  Yearsley; 
the  father  was  born  in  Chester  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  his  wife,  a 
daughter  of  Robert  and  Ruth  Green,  was  born  August  3,  1833,  and  died 
April  5,  1907,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three.  Mr.  Green  and  his  wife  settled 
in  Ohio  when  Sarah  was  a child.  Thomas  Yearsley  taught  school  in  his 
youth,  and  later  took  up  farming,  which  he  followed  during  the  remain- 
der of  his  life.  Besides  Joseph,  his  children  were:  Alben,  of  Union 

county,  Ohio,  a farmer;  Burton,  also  a farmer  of  Union  county;  Ada, 
wife  of  David  Wyeth,  of  Union  county ; Emma,  wife  of  Clifton  Folsom, 
of  Bellefontaine,  Ohio;  one  daughter  who  died  in  infancy;  and  Mary, 
wife  of  Lloyd  Rogers,  died  in  Union  county,  Ohio,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
eight  years,  in  1900. 

Joseph  Yearsley  attended  school  until  seventeen  years  of  age 
and  then  began  working  in  a store  at  Broadway,  Ohio,  where  he  re- 
mained two  and  one-half  years.  He  spent  two  years  lumbering  and 
hauling  logs,  and  in  1891  rented  a farm  where  he  remained  two  years. 
He  then  worked  on  his  father’s  farm  until  1896,  when  he  came  to  Hardin 
county,  Ohio,  and  spent  six  years  on  a farm.  Mr.  Yearsley  rented  a 
farm  in  Buck  township  four  years,  spent  one  year  farming  on  the  edge 
of  Logan  county  and  then  settled  at  Mount  Victory,  Hale  township,  in 
1902.  Since  the  time  of  his  first  coming  to  Hardin  county,  he  has  been 
interested  in  dealing  in  hay  and  straw,  besides  attending  to  his  farming 
interests.  He  has  been  very  successful  in  all  his  enterprises,  and  is  one 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


479 


of  the  substantial,  representative  business  men  of  Hardin  county. 
Politically  Mr.  Yea-rsley  is  a Republican,  and  be  is  now  serving  on  the 
school  board. 

Mr.  Yearsley  married  September  30,  1886,  Anna  Winter,  born 
in  Franklin  county,  Ohio,  January  31,  1865,  daughter  of  Levy  and 
Nancy  (Myers)  Winter,  both  natives  of  Washington  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania. Mr.  Winter  was  born  in  1822  and  died  in  1890,  and  his  widow 
survives  at  an  advanced  age.  They  were  farmers  of  Union  county, 
Ohio.  Mrs.  Yearsley  died  October  5,  1907,  at  her  home  in  Mount 
Victory,  sincerely  mourned  by  a large  circle  of  friends.  She  was  kind 
and  charitable,  with  a beautiful  character  and  high  ideals.  She  was 
a devout  Christian  and  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
also  of  the  Ladies’  Aid  Society,  and  was  president  of  the  Missionary 
Society.  She  was  active  in  church  work  and  always  interested  in  every 
good  cause. 

Mr.  Yearsley  and  his  wife  had  children  as  follows:  Blanch,  born 
April  3,  1888,  wife  of  Robert  McKimm,  a barber  of  Mount  Victory; 
Mabel,  born  March  21,  1893,  attending  high  school  ; Fern,  born  October 
15,  1896,  attending  school ; and  Wilbur,  horn  September  8,  1901,  died 
August  10,  1904.  Mr.  Yearsley  lives  at  home  with  his  children. 

Elmer  Ellsworth  Lynch,  M.  D.,  a highly  successful  physician 
and  pharmacist  of  Ridgeway,  is  one  of  the  most  useful  and  esteemed 
citizens  of  this  place,  his  enterprise,  good  character  and  public  spirit, 
having  won  for  him  an  assured  position  in  the  estimation  of  the  people. 
A son  of  the  late  Hezekiali  Lynch,  he  was  born  April  25,  1864,  in  Hale 
township,  Hardin  county.  His  grandfather,  Clinton  Lynch,  came  from 
Virginia  to  Hardin  county,  establishing  himself  as  a general  merchant 
at  Forest,  where  he  remained  in  business  until  after  the  death  of  his 
wife,  in  1875,  at  the  comparatively  early  age  of  forty-nine  years.  He 
subsequently  moved  with  his  family  to  Mount  Victory,  and  was  there  a 
resident  until  his  death,  in  1881,  at  the  age  of  three  score  years. 

Hezekiali  Lynch  was  born  in  Virginia,  in  1838,  and  when  young 
came  with  his  parents  to  Hardin  county,  where  he  grew  to  manhood, 
and  subsequently  spent  his  life,  dying  at  his  home  in  Hale  township 
in  1902.  He  married  Mrs.  Levina  (Andrews)  Osborn,  who  was  born 
in  Hale  township,  May  31,  1838,  a daughter  of  Lewis  and  Mary  (Conk- 
lin) Andrews,  early  settlers  of  Hardin  county,  coming  from  Pennsyl- 
vania to  Ohio  in  1827.  The  only  child  born  of  their  union  was  Elmer 
Ellsworth,  the  subject  of  this  brief  sketch.  By  her  union  with  her  first 
husband,  Obedia  Osborn,  Mrs.  Lynch  had  three  children,  namely: 
Lafayette,  of  Mt.  Victory,  a stockman ; Ida,  wife  of  C.  A.  Wilgus,  of 
West  Mansfield;  and  Etta,  deceased,  married  Arthur  Van  Tuyl. 

During  his  earlier  life  Elmer  E.  Lynch  taught  school  five  years 
three  years  of  the  time  being  thus  employed  at  Mount  Victory.  He 
afterwards  attended  Wittenberg  College  at  Springfield,  Ohio,  one  term, 
later  studying  a year  in  the  literary  department  of  the  Wesleyan  Uni- 
versity at  Delaware.  He  subsequently  began  the  study  of  medicine  at 
the  Miami  Medical  College  in  Cincinnati,  and  in  1895  was  graduated, 


480 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


with  the  degree  of  M.  I).,  from  the  Toledo  Medical  College.  Dr.  Lynch 
began  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Silver  Creek,  from  there  going  to 
Big  Springs,  and  in  1901  came  to  Ridgeway,  where  he  has  since  remained, 
having  built  up  an  excellent  practice,  in  connection  with  which  he  es- 
tablished a pharmacy,  which  he  is  conducting  most  successfully.  The 
Doctor  is  active  in  public  affairs,  being  one  of  the  leading  Democrats  of 
this  section  of  Hardin  county,  and  from  1902  until  1908  served  as  mayor 
of  the  city.  Fraternally  he  is  a member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  of 
the  Woodmen  of  the  World. 

Dr.  Lynch  married  in  1891,  Elizabeth  lames,  who  was  born  March 
7,  1872,  a daughter  of  Thomas  D.  and  Lydia  lames,  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania, where  her  birth  occurred.  She  came  with  them  from  Penn- 
sylvania to  Ohio,  and  lived  in  Logan  county  until  her  marriage.  On 
October  8,  1909,  the  angel  of  death  crossed  the  Doctor’s  threshold, 
bearing  to  the  life  beyond  the  loving  wife  and  mother.  She  was  a 
woman  of  noble  character,  devoted  to  the  interests  of  her  household, 
and  was  a conscientious  member  and  an  active  worker  of  the  Methodist 
Protestant  church.  One  child  was  born  to  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Lynch,  namely: 
Leota,  born  July  2,  1892,  and  who  has  had  charge  of  the  home  since  the 
death  of  her  mother,  filling  the  place  of  the  loved  one  to  the  best  of  her 
ability. 

Francis  Marion  List  is  the  present  postmaster  of  Mt.  Victory, 
and  he  is  an  active  public  worker.  He  was  born  in  Marion  county, 
Indiana,  June  20,  1845,  a son  of  Henry  S.  List,  born  in  Switzerland 
county,  Kentucky,  and  a grandson  of  John  D.  List,  one  of  the  early 
pioneers  of  that  county.  This  John  List,  a farmer  and  later  a cooper, 
came  from  Switzerland  county  to  Johnson  county,  Indiana,  when  his 
son  Henry  was  a boy  of  ten  years,  and  the  family  camped  out  until  a 
log  cabin  could  be  erected.  He  made  the  journey  with  an  ox  team, 
coming  with  a colony  which  settled  in  Johnson  county  at  that  time,  and 
his  worldly  possessions  then  consisted  of  an  axe  and  a few  utensils. 
There  was  scarcely  any  money  in  circulation  there  at  that  time,  skins 
of  animals  being  used  in  exchange  for  food  and  materials.  John  D. 
List  married  Sarah  Breckenridge,  also  from  Kentucky,  and  she  shared 
with  her  husband  the  pioneer  life  on  the  frontier  of  Indiana.  Their 
son  Henry  after  leaving  the  school  room  followed  the  carpenter’s  trade 
and  farmed.  After  his  marriage  he  moved  to  Marion  county,  Indiana, 
and  he  continued  his  farming  and  carpentering  there  until  his  death, 
dying  in  1851,  a member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  and  a Whig  in  his 
political  affiliations.  He  had  married  in  his  early  life  Louisa  E.  Mars, 
and  she  died  in  1852,  when  but  twenty-three  years  of  age.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  Daniel  C4.  Mars,  who  came  from  his  native  Ireland  to  America 
in  1835  and  located  in  Marion  county  Indiana.  Two  of  the  four  children 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  List  are  living,  and  the  daughter  Anna,  the 
younger  of  the  two,  is  the  widow  of  Gilbert  McCaslin  and  a resident 
of  Franklin  county,  Indiana. 

Francis  M.  List  was  left  an  orphan  when  but  six  years  of  age,  and 
he  was  reared  by  his  grandparents.  Moving  to  Champaign  county, 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIJN  COUNTY 


481 


Illinois,  in  1856  he  spent  three  years  there,  and  moving  then  to  near 
Monticello,  that  state,  he  farmed  the  land  which  had  been  purchased  by 
his  grandfather  and  an  uncle  many  years  before.  At  the  age  of  seven- 
teen he  enlisted  for  service  in  the  Civil  war,  and  joining  Company  D, 
Seventy-third  Illinois  Infantry,  at  Monticello,  in  1862  he  was  sent  with 
his  command  to  Louisville,  Kentucky,  and  thence  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
crossing  the  river  on  pontoons.  They  built  the  first  fort  near  Covington, 
Kentucky,  and  with  his  command  Mr.  List  participated  in  the  battles 
of  Perryville,  Nashville,  Murfreesboro  (where  they  were  under  fire  for 
four  days.)  Chickamauga,  Missionary  Ridge,  Knoxville  and  the  Atlanta 
campaign.  He  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  and  he  was 
mustered  out  of  the  service  on  the  12tli  of  June,  1865.  After  returning 
home  from  the  war,  Mr.  List  attended  the  academy  at  Monticello,  Illinois, 
for  one  year,  and  then  studied  dentistry  and  practiced  the  profession  for 
a year.  He  was  after  this  for  two  years  the  superintendent  of  railroad 
grading,  and  then  returning  to  Urbana,  Illinois,  he  resided  there  until 
1874.  Following  his  marriage  on  the  29th  of  October  of  that  year  he 
came  to  Mt.  Victory,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  brick 
and  tile  until  1905,  and  in  that  year  he  was  appointed  the  postmaster 
of  Mt.  Victory. 

Mrs.  List  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Lucy  J.  Patrick,  and  she  was  born 
on  the  12th  of  July,  1851,  a daughter  of  John  and  Martha  (Cutting) 
Patrick,  the  father  a cabinetmaker  at  Zanesfield,  Ohio.  Of  the  four 
children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  List  three  died  in  infancy,  and  the  only 
one  living  is  Lula,  born  March  25,  1876,  and  now  assisting  her  father  in 
the  postoffice.  Mr.  List  is  a member  of  the  Republican  party  and  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Mrs.  Rebecca  Robinson. — One  of  the  most  highly  respected  resi- 
dents of  Hale  township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  is  the  venerable  Mrs. 
Rebecca  Robinson,  widow  of  Silas  Robinson,  who  died  in  1864.  The 
Robinson  homestead  is  located  in  a historic  spot,  and  even  today  is 
known  by  its  very  old  title  of  Grassy  Point.  Mrs.  Robinson  was  for 
many  years  actively  engaged  in  managing  and  carrying  on  the  farm, 
but  has  now  retired  from  active  life,  and  her  task  has  been  taken  up  by 
her  son,  who  resides  with  her.  She  was  born  May  22,  1829,  in  Logan 
county,  Ohio,  a daughter  of  William  and  Margaret  (Richardson)  Paxton, 
the  former  of  whom  died  in  1879,  at  the  age  of  eighty-eight  years,  and 
the  latter  died  in  1876,  at  the  age  of  seventy- five  years.  William  Paxton 
came  from  Virginia  to  Logan  county.  He  was  a son  of  John  and 
Nancy  Paxton,  the  former  of  whom  died  in  1800.  William  Paxton 
farmed  with  his  parents  until  1835,  and  then  moved  with  his  family  to 
Hale  township,  where  he  lived  a short  time,  but  by  mistake  in  the  title 
lost  his  land  and  then  located  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  the  Balding 
heirs.  There  he  remained  until  1875,  and  then  removed  to  Cass  county, 
Michigan,  where  the  remainder  of  his  life  was  spent.  He  and  his  wife 
had  ten  children,  of  whom  five  survive,  namely:  Henry,  retired  and 

living  at  Bell  Center,  Ohio;  Harriet  Ann,  wife  of  J.  Boyd,  a retired 
farmer  of  Cass  county,  Michigan ; Susan,  wife  of  M.  Dunson,  of  Bellaire, 


482 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


in  northern  Michigan;  Harriet,  wife  of  Sol  Ream,  of  Zanesfield,  Ohio; 
and  Mrs.  Robinson. 

Rebecca  (Mrs.  Robinson)  is  the  oldest  living  of  the  family.  Grand- 
father Paxton  was  a school  teacher,  and  one  day,  just  before  his  death, 
sent  his  pupils  home  with  the  remark  that  he  would  never  teach  again 
and  his  death  occurred  that  night.  Rebecca  Paxton  remained  at  home 
until  her  marriage,  in  1851,  to  Silas  Robinson,  who  was  born  in  Cham- 
paign county,  Ohio.  He  was  a successful  farmer  and  became  a promi- 
nent citizen.  He  made  a specialty  of  raising  and  shipping  stock.  He 
came  to  Hardin  county  from  Champaign  county,  Ohio,  with  a sister  and 
his  father  and  settled  on  the  farm  where  his  widow  now  resides,  he  and 
his  sister  living  together  until  his  marriage.  After  1855  he  confined 
his  attention  to  farming,  and  became  prominent  in  local  political  matters. 
He  was  a Whig  and  later  a Republican,  becoming  a member  of  the 
school  board. 

The  father  of  Silas,  John  Robinson,  came  from  Virginia  to  Cham- 
paign county,  Ohio,  as  a boy,  and  afterward  located  in  Hardin  county. 
He  died  at  the  home  of  his  son  Silas,  in  1860,  at  the  age  of  ninety-one 
years. 

Silas  Robinson  and  his  wife  had  children  as  follows:  William 

Henry,  a sketch  of  whom  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work ; Lavina,  widow 
of  William  Callahan,  of  Ridgeway;  Harriet,  wife  of  Dan  Ferris,  a dray- 
man of  Ridgeway,  and  they  have  four  children ; and  Albert,  who  married 
Catherine  McElhaney,  and  they  have  three  children. 

Mrs.  Robinson  is  one  of  the  most  enterprising  and  able  business 
women  of  Hardin  county,  enjoys  the  affection  of  a large  circle  of  friends, 
and  is  highly  respected  by  all.  She  is  well  known  in  the  community, 
and  for  the  past  forty  years  has  been  a church  member.  The  home  of 
Mrs.  Robinson  was  in  early  days  a hotel,  which  was  operated  by  Horace 
Buckminster,  and  this  was  known  as  the  Wayside  Inn.  Mrs.  Robinson’s 
father  built  a rough  cabin,  during  his  absence  trading  furs,  and  his 
wife,  who  was  left  alone  with  the  children,  had  to  keep  a bright  fire  all 
night  to  keep  away  the  wolves. 

Peter  Brown. — The  substantial  and  well-to-do  agriculturists  of 
Buck  township,  Hardin  county,  have  an  excellent  representative  in  the 
person  of  Peter  Brown,  who  comes  on  both  sides  of  the  house  of  pioneer 
stock,  and  is  successfully  devoting  his  time  and  energies  to  his  well  im- 
proved and  finely  managed  farming  property.  He  was  born  May  31,  1853, 
in  Scioto  county,  Ohio,  a son  of  Joseph  Brown.  His  paternal  grand- 
father, William  Brown,  was  born  in  Ireland,  of  thrifty  Scotch  ancestry. 
Emigrating  when  young  to  the  United  States,  he  bought  a tract  of  wild 
and  wooded  land  in  Scioto  county,  Ohio,  and  on  the  farm  which  he 
cleared  and  improved  he  resided  until  his  death,  at  the  age  of  four  score 
years. 

Born,  reared  and  married  in  Scioto  county,  Ohio,  Joseph  Brown 
lived  there  until  1855,  when,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  two  children 
he  migrated  to  Logan  county,  and  bought  a tract  of  land  near  Ridgeway. 
A log  house,  a log  stable,  and  a patch  of  cleared  land  constituted  the 


/&t 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


483 


improvements  on  the  place.  He  cleared  more  of  the  land  and  then  sold 
at  an  advance,  and  bought  eighty-seven  acres  on  the  north  line  of  the 
county.  There  were  two  log  cabins  on  the  land  when  he  bought  it.  He 
subsequently  built  a spacious  hewed  log  house,  and  resided  there  a 
number  of  years.  Selling  out  then,  he  bought  ninety-six  acres, 
a part  of  which  was  in  Hardin  county.  He  built  a hewed  log  house, 
improved  the  land,  and  set  out  fruit  and  shade  trees,  rendering  the  estate 
one  of  the  most  attractive  in  the  neighborhood,  and  was  there  a resident 
until  his  death,  at  the  age  of  forty-nine  years,  while  yet  in  the  prime  of 
life. 

Joseph  Brown  married  Ecley  Riley,  who  was  born  near  Zanesfield, 
Logan  county,  Ohio,  eighty-seven  years  ago,  a daughter  of  William  and 
Nancy  Riley,  who  were  among  the  original  settlers  of  Logan  county. 
When  they  located  there  wild  game  of  all  kinds  was  abundant,  and  In- 
dians still  inhabited  the  forests.  Mr.  Riley  cleared  and  improved  a 
good  homestead,  and  there  he  and  his  faithful  wife  and  co-worker  spent 
their  remaining  years.  Mr.  Brown’s  mother  is  still  living,  and  has  a 
vivid  recollection  of  the  hardships  and  privations  endured  by  the 
brave  pioneers  of  this  section  of  the  country,  who  first  uprooted  the 
trees,  ploughed  the  sod,  and  made  a broad  track  for  the  advance  of 
civilization.  She  reared  four  children,  namely : John,  Peter,  Sarah 
Jane,  and  Margaret  Ellen. 

But  two  years  old  when  his  parents  moved  to  Logan  county,  Peter 
Brown  attended  school  as  opportunity  offered,  gaily  trudging  the 
two  long  miles  between  his  home  and  the  log  school  house.  After  the 
death  of  his  father  he  assisted  in  clearing  the  land  and  tilling  the  soil, 
remaining  with  his  mother  until  ready  to  establish  a home  of  his  own. 
He  settled  then  on  a portion  of  the  old  homestead,  but  at  the  end  of  two 
years  sold  and  bought  land  three  miles  north  of  Rushsylvania,  where  he 
lived  three  years.  Selling  that  property  Mr.  Brown  lived  eleven  years 
on  rented  farms  in  Buck  township,  and  then  moved  to  his  present  near-by 
farm,  where  he  has  since  been  actively  and  successfully  engaged  in  gen- 
eral agriculture. 

Mr.  Brown  married  in  August,  1879,  Ella  Roberts,  a native  of 
Logan  county,  Ohio.  Her  father,  John  Roberts,  was  born  March  7, 
1827,  in  Tennessee,  and  when  six  years  old  came  with  his  parents, 
Andrew  and  Margaret  (McCamish)  Roberts,  to  Logan  county.  He 
served  during  the  Civil  war  as  a member  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Ninety- 
fifth  Regiment  of  Illinois,  at  the  close  of  the  conflict  being  honorably 
discharged  from  the  service.  He  was  a farmer  by  occupation,  owning 
land  in  Rush  Creek  township,  Logan  county,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
his  chosen  vocation  until  his  death,  November  28,  1899,  being  seventy- 
two  years,  eight  months  and  twenty  days  at  the  time.  His  wife, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Anna  Kantzman,  was  born  February  9.  1824, 
in  West  Virginia,  a daughter  of  John  and  Mary  Kantzman,  who  became 
early  settlers  of  Logan  county,  Ohio.  Anna  Kantzman  married  John 
J.  Roberts  July  5,  1846,  and  she  died  October  30,  1904,  at  the  age  of 
eighty  years,  eight  months  and  twenty-one  days.  She  was  the  mother 
of  eleven  children  of  whom  eight  are  living  and  Mrs.  Brown  is  the  third 


484 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


youngest,  the  date  of  her  birth  being  March  23,  1863.  Mrs.  Brown’s 
mother  spun  and  wove  the  large  canvas  cover  that  was  used  in  camping 
when  they  came  here.  Mrs.  Brown’s  mother  passed  to  the  higher  life 
October  30,  1909. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown  have  two  children,  namely:  Harry  and  Stella. 
Harry  married  Ella  Dysart,  and  they  have  two  children,  Cleora  and 
Dwight.  Stella  married  first  Kerr  Brooks,  and  they  had  one  daughter, 
Clara.  She  married  for  her  second  husband  William  Clark.  Politi- 
cally Mr.  Brown  is  a stanch  advocate  of  the  principles  of  the  Democratic 
party,  and  socially  he  is  a member  of  Silver  Creek  Grange.  Mrs.  Brown 
is  a member  of  the  Disciple,?  church  of  Belle  Center. 

Mrs.  Nancy  Elliott,  who  carries  on  a farm  in  Hale  township, 
Hardin  county,  is  the  widow  of  Wilkinson  Elliott,  who  was  born  August 
6,  1809,  and  died  August  10,  1894.  He  followed  farming  all  his  life 
and  in  1855  came  to  the  present  Elliott  farm,  which  he  cleared;  he  built  a 
log  cabin,  which  has  now  disappeared,  but  the  old  barn  he  first  erected 
is  still  standing.  Mr.  Elliott  was  a son  of  Benjamin  and  Susanna 
(Sutley)  Elliott,  farmers  of  Stark  county,  Ohio;  he  was  born  in  1778 
and  died  in  1859,  and  his  wife,  who  was  born  December  21,  1784,  died 
March  21,  1883.  Wilkinson  Elliott  traveled  extensively  before  his 
marriage.  He  was  a Quaker  and  a strong  Prohibitionist,  and  traveled 
for  the  purpose  of  giving  lectures  in  the  cause,  continuing  this  good 
work  until  his  death.  He  met  with  an  accident  some  years  before  this, 
so  that  he  had  retired  from  active  life. 

Mrs.  Elliott  is  a daughter  of  John  Rollins,  a native  of  Virginia,  a 
farmer  all  his  life,  and  who  died  in  1841,  at  the  age  of  seventy  years. 
ITe  married  Rebecca  Pyles,  who  died  in  1860,  at  the  age  of  sixty  years. 
Mrs.  Rollins  reared  a family  of  eight  children  after  the  death  of  her 
husband.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elliott  had  children  as  follows:  E.  L.  Elliott, 
single,  a farmer  of  Colorado;  E.  A.  Elliott  and  his  wife  Anna,  living  on 
a farm  in  Hale  township,  have  three  children ; Abbrilla,  wife  of  Ross 
Armon,  a farmer  of  Hale  township,  has  two  children.  Mrs.  Elliott  was 
born  in  Scioto  county,  Ohio,  October  1,  1826,  and  is  one  of  the  oldest 
residents  of  Hardin  county.  She  lives  alone  on  the  old  homestead,  her 
children  being  all  provided  for,  prosperous,  well-to-do  and  all  except  one 
living  near  her.  She  endured  the  hardships  incident  to  pioneer  life  in 
her  young  married  life,  and  now  enjoys  a peaceful,  though  useful  ex- 
istence. She  is  an  earnest  member  of  the  Quaker  church,  and  is  still  an 
active  worker.  Since  her  girlhood  Mrs.  Elliott  has  spent  considerable 
time  weaving  carpets  and  rugs,  and  still  to  some  extent  follows  this  old 
fashioned  occupation  as  a pleasant  pastime.  Mrs.  Elliott  is  well  known 
throughout  the  community,  where  she  is  universally  revered  and  es- 
teemed. She  is  a pleasing  conversationalist,  and  her  manner  and 
bearing  are  cheerful  and  pleasant,  the  reflection  of  a beautiful  character. 

Charles  R.  Wilson,  a prosperous  farmer  of  Hale  township,  Hardin 
county,  was  born  December  27,  1864,  in  McLean  county,  Illinois,  and  is 
a son  of  Hugh  Wilson.  The  father  of  Hugh,  John  Wilson,  a native  of 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


485 


Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania,  moved  to  Beaver  county,  in  the 
same  state,  where  he  entered  four  hundred  acres  of  land.  He  sold  two 
hundred  acres  and  located  in  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  where  he  opened  a 
tavern  and  spent  his  remaining  years.  His  wife  was  Mary  Post.  John 
Wilson  served  in  the  war  of  1812,  was  a Whig,  and  a member  of  the 
Lutheran  church. 

Hugh  Wilson  was  born  in  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  March  4,  1818,  and 
died  June  5,  1895.  He  carried  on  farming  until  1831  and  then  began 
driving  an  ox  team  for  Cyrus  Dille ; in  1843  he  married  Sarah  Dille, 
daughter  of  his  employer,  who  died  in  1866,  aged  forty-three  years. 
After  his  marriage  he  entered  a two  hundred  acre  farm  in  Hardin 
county  near  his  son,  Charles  R.,  and  was  the  first  settler  in  the  section. 
In  1856  he  drove  a team  to  McLean  county,  Illinois,  where  he  remained 
until  1870  and  then  moved  to  Pyatt  county,  Illinois,  where  he  lived  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  lie  was  an  earnest  member  of  the  Methodist 
church,  and  politically  was  a strong  supporter  of  the  Republican  party. 
He  served  as  clerk  of  Hale  township  when  it  contained  but  thirty-five 
residents.  He  was  serving  on  a jury  at  Bloomington,  Illinois,  when 
Abraham  Lincoln  pleaded  a case.  Mr.  Wilson  was  an  influential  citizen 
and  served  in  the  Illinois  legislature.  His  children  were : Mary, 

deceased;  John,  a farmer  near  Mount  Vernon,  Illinois;  William,  a 
farmer  at  Parkville,  Missouri;  Jane,  wife  of  William  Glass,  of  Platt 
county,  Missouri;  Cyrus  D.,  a farmer  of  Platt  county,  Missouri;  and 
Charles  R.,  the  youngest. 

Mr.  Wilson  attended  school  until  seventeen  years  of  age  and  then 
for  two  years  engaged  in  farming.  For  two  years  he  was  engaged  in 
buying  and  shipping  stock  in  Missouri,  and  then  for  some  time  in  the 
real  estate  business  in  Kansas  City.  In  1887  he  began  farming  in 
Illinois,  and  in  1896  located  in  Hale  township,  and  purchased  the  farm 
he  now  occupies,  one  of  the  largest  and  finest  in  the  township.  He 
carries  on  general  farming  and  raises  considerable  stock,  being  a pro- 
gressive farmer,  of  modern  methods  and  ideas. 

Mr.  Wilson  married,  January  16,  1889,  Emma  Jane  McCall,  born 
March  24,  1863,  daughter  of  William  E.  and  Charlotte  (Garwood) 
McCall,  of  an  old  pioneer  family,  and  they  have  children  as  follows: 
Carl  H.,  born  in  1890,  now  at  the  state  university;  Lucille,  born  in  1892, 
in  the  high  school  at  Mt.  Victory,  Ohio ; Chester  M.,  born  in  1893,  at 
school;  Lottie  Irene,  born  in  1895,  attending  school;  and  John  H.,  born 
in  1897,  also  at  school.  Mr.  AVilson  is  a member  and  trustee  in  the 
Methodist  church.  He  is  a member  of  the  school  board,  a strong 
Republican,  and  one  of  the  most  active  and  prominent  workers  in  the 
interests  of  his  party  to  be  found  in  the  community.  Among  the  valued 
possessions  of  Mr.  AVilson  is  an  application  for  a land  patent  made  by 
his  grandfather  in  1792,  also  a note  issued  to  him  payable  in  pot  metal 
at  the  rate  of  eight  cents  per  ton,  the  amount  of  the  note  being  forty 
dollars.  The  grandfather,  John  Wilson,  had  once  an  exciting  encounter 
with  the  only  Indian  who  remained  in  the  vicinity  after  the  others  had 
removed  westward ; the  Indian  afterward  vanished,  Air.  Wilson  having- 
won  out  in  the  contest.  Air.  AVilson  remembers  as  a boy  being  with  his 


486 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


parents  a guest  of  Governor  Cullom,  of  Illinois,  at  the  time  of  a state 
fair,  among  the  fellow  guests  being  President  R.  B.  Hayes  and  General 
Sherman. 

William  B.  Wallace,  a prominent  farmer  of  Hale  township, 
Hardin  county,  was  born  September  30,  1849,  in  Logan  county,  Ohio, 
and  is  a son  of  Alexander  and  Mahala  Wallace,  early  settlers  of  Hardin 
county.  Mr.  Wallace  attended  school  until  seventeen  years  of  age  and 
remained  with  his  parents  until  his  marriage,  when  he  settled  on  the  farm 
he  now  occupies.  He  first  bought  forty-two  acres,  and  the  log  house 
thereon,  which  was  fashioned  in  a crude  manner,  was  one  of  the  first  in 
the  vicinity.  He  has  acquired  his  present  comfortable  home  and  sur- 
roundings by  his  industry,  economy  and  thrift.  Tie  has  erected  a fine 
residence  and  has  one  of  the  most  attractive  places  in  the  township,  with 
all  modern  conveniences. 

In  September,  1871,  Mr.  Wallace  married  Mary  I).  Rudasill,  born 
January  26,  1850,  in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  daughter  of  Winfield  and 
Lvdia  (Sutton)  Rudasill.  Winfield  Rudasill  died  in  early  life,  and 
his  wife  still  lives  near  Rushsylvania,  aged  eighty-two  years.  His 
father,  Lamson  Rudasill,  and  his  wife,  Mary  Doby,  were  natives  of 
Virginia,  who  settled  in  Logan  county,  Ohio.  Winfield  Rudasill  and 
his  wife  had  children  as  follows:  John  P.,  a farmer  of  Rushsylvania; 
Jonathan  S.,  deceased,  was  a farmer  living  in  Kansas;  Leah,  with  her 
mother ; Bessie,  wife  of  J.  Day ; Florence,  wife  of  E.  D.  Barber ; and 
Mary  D.,  Mrs.  Wallace.  Mr.  Rudasill  was  a member  of  the  Christian 
church,  served  many  years  as  a justice  of  the  peace  of  Logan  county, 
Ohio,  and  was  a prominent  member  of  the  Masonic  order.  Mr.  AVallaee 
and  his  wife  have  children  as  follows:  Ethel,  born  in  1874,  at  home; 

George,  born  in  1876,  a farmer  in  Logan  county,  Ohio;  Bessie  and 
Blanch,  twins,  born  in  1878;  and  Earl,  born  in  1882.  George  married 
Nona  Morrison  and  they  have  three  children,  Mabel,  Ruth  and  Harold. 
Bessie  married  H.  Morrison,  a hay  dealer  of  Mt.  Victory,  Ohio,  and  they 
have  two  children,  Clara  and  Helen.  Blanch  married  D.  Vasser,  a 
farmer  of  Hale  township,  and  they  have  one  child,  Lela.  Earl,  a 
farmer  in  Hardin  county,  married  Margaret  Miller,  and  they  have  two 
children,  Opal  and  Louise. 

Mr.  Wallace  and  his  wife  have  been  for  many  years  members  of  the 
Christian  church  of  Mt.  Victory,  of  which  he  has  served  twenty  years  as 
trustee,  deacon  and  elder;  she  also  belongs  to  the  Ladies’  Aid  and 
Missionary  Societies.  Mr.  Wallace  is  actively  interested  in  public 
affairs  and  is  a member  of  the  district  school  board.  Politically  he  is  a 
Republican. 

Joseph  Alexander  Korns. — Prominent  among  the  business  men 
and  citizens  of  Mt.  Victory  is  numbered  Joseph  Alexander  Korns,  the 
cashier  of  the  Mt.  Victory  Bank.  He  was  born  in  Logan  county,  Ohio, 
April  9,  1879,  a son  of  Silas  Wright  Korns,  who  is  living  retired  at  Mt. 
Victory,  now  sixty-six  years  of  age.  He  was  born  in  Holmes  county, 
Ohio,  and  after  leaving  the  school  room  he  took  up  the  work  of  the  farm 


V 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


487 


and  followed  it  until  enlisting  for  the  Civil  war.  Joining  Company  0, 
One  Hundred  and  Second  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry  at  Millersburg,  Ohio, 
he  served  throughout  the  entire  conflict,  and  after  returning  home  from 
the  war  he  again  took  up  the  work  of  the  farm  and  continued  as  an 
agriculturist  until  his  retirement  in  1890.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  is  one  of  the  church  trustees.  Mrs. 
Korns,  Anna  A.,  is  a daughter  of  one  of  the  most  honored  residents  of 
Mt.  Victory,  William  I.  Witc-raft,  a pioneer,  business  man  and  banker. 
His  life’s  span  has  covered  eighty-seven  years,  years  of  honorable  effort, 
and  he  is  now  living  retired.  His  wife  was  before  marriage  Margaret 
Wallace.  Four  sons  and  a daughter  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Korns, 
but  only  the  sons  are  now  living.  Charles  William  Korns  is  an  agricul- 
turist in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  and  John  Hamilton  Korns  is  a practicing 
physician  at  Chicago,  Illinois. 

Joseph  A.  Korns  after  leaving  the  graded  schools  at  the  age  of 
fifteen  years  attended  high  school  for  three  years  and  graduated  in  1898. 
He  enlisted  in  April,  1898,  for  the  Spanish- American  war,  at  Kenton, 
Ohio,  and  was  made  a member  of  Company  0,  Second  Ohio  Infantry, 
accompanying  it  to  Chickamauga  Park,  Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  Knox- 
ville, Tennessee,  and  thence  to  Macon,  Georgia,  where  he  was  stationed 
when  the  war  ended.  Returning  home  in  February,  1899,  Mr.  Korns 
entered  the  Lima  (Ohio)  Business  College  and  graduated  therefrom  in 
the  fall  of  1899.  lie  entered  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  University  at  Delaware, 
Ohio,  in  the  fall  of  1899,  and  graduated  from  there  in  June,  1902.  He 
then  spent  almost  two  years  at  Long  Beach.  California,  connected  with 
the  First  National  Bank  there,  and  coming  to  Mt,  Victory  in  June,  1904, 
he  was  made  the  assistant  cashier  of  the  Mt.  Victory  Bank,  and  in 
January  of  1906  became  its  cashier. 

He  married  on  October  4,  1903,  Ethel  Viola  Williams,  born  March 
6,  1880,  a daughter  of  the  Rev.  Charles  S.  Williams,  the  pastor  of  the 
Winona  church.  His  wife  is  deceased.  Two  children,  Laverne 
Emelene  and  William  Theodore  Bashford,  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Korns,  and  they  are  aged  respectively  five  and  one  years.  Mr. 
Korns  is  a member  and  one  of  the  stewards  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  he  is  also  prominently  identified  with  the  Masonic  order, 
affiliated  with  Latham  Lodge  No.  154,  Scioto  Chapter  No.  119,  with 
Kenton  Council  No.  65,  with  Kenton  Commandery  No.  58,  with  the 
Ancient  and  Accepted  Scottish  Rite  at  Toledo  and  with  Aladdin  Temple 
at  Columbus. 

John  IIobensack,  has  through  many  years  been  prominently 
identified  with  the  public  life  of  Mt.  Victory  and  active  in  the  local 
councils  of  the  Republican  party.  During  thirteen  years  he  served  Mt. 
Victory  as  its  mayor,  and  he  is  now  serving  his  third  term  as  a justice  of 
the  peace.  He  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  September  16. 
1833,  a son  of  Isaac  and  Emily  (Fetter)  Hobensack,  and  a grandson  on 
the  paternal  side  of  John  Hobensack,  who  came  to  this  country  from 
Germany  in  1771  and  located  in  Montgomery  county,  Pennsylvania. 
He  was  a land  owner  and  farmer  there,  and  he  served  five  years  as  a Revo- 


488 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


lutionary  soldier.  The  Fetter  family  came  to  this  country  at  the  same 
time  as  the  Hobensacks.  John  and  Emily  Fetter  became  farming  people 
of  Montgomery  county,  Pennsylvania.  He  affiliated  with  both  the  Whig 
and  Republican  parties,  and  he  represented  his  county  in  the  state  legis- 
lature of  Pennsylvania  for  two  terms.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were 
members  of  the  Baptist  church.  Their  daughter,  Emily,  born  in  1801, 
died  in  the  year  1882.  Isaac  Hobensack,  born  in  Montgomery  county, 
Pennsylvania,  April  21,  1798,  took  up  the  work  of  the  farm  after  com- 
pleting his  education,  finally  purchasing  the  old  Hobensack  homestead, 
which  is  yet  in  the  possession  of  this  family,  and  he  died  there  in  1892. 
The  children  born  to  Isaac  and  Emily  Hobensack  are  William;  Rachel; 
Casper ; Margaret,  the  widow  of  William  L.  Craven  and  living  in  Phila- 
adelphia ; Isaac  C. ; Elizabeth ; John,  the  subject  of  this  sketch ; and  Mary 
Ellen,  the  widow  of  Thomas  Mabray  and  living  in  Philadelphia. 

John  Hobensack  after  leaving  the  public  schools  at  the  age  of  seven- 
teen attended  the  Chester  county  boarding  school  for  three  terms,  and 
during  a similar  period  thereafter  taught  school.  He  then  turned  his 
attention  to  farming,  conducting  the  Hobensack  homestead  until  his 
enlistment  on  the  8th  of  August,  1861  at  Trenton,  New  Jersey,  for  the 
Civil  war.  Joining  Company  A,  First  New  Jersey  Cavalry,  he  was 
commissioned  a second  lieutenant  in  December,  1861,  while  in  the  follow- 
ing February  he  was  promoted  to  a first  lieutenancy,  and  in  April  was 
commissioned  a captain.  He  served  in  all  the  principal  battles  of  the 
Eastern  army,  and  on  the  9th  of  August,  1862,  was  wounded  at  Cedar 
Mountain.  He  was  also  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Mine  Run  and  again 
at  Sweetbrier  Springs,  and  rejoining  his  regiment  from  the  hospital  at 
Georgetown  he  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  captured  at 
Brandy  Station  in  Virginia  and  taken  to  Gordonsville  in  the  same  state, 
but  escaping  he  rejoined  his  regiment,  and  was  finally  mustered  out  at 
Trenton,  New  Jersey,  on  the  28th  of  July,  1865.  During  his  army 
career  Mr.  Hobensack  served  as  staff  aid-de-camp  to  General  Winfield 
Hancock  from  December  1,  1864,  until  his  discharge  from  the  Second 
Corps,  and  he  then  held  the  same  office  under  General  Humphrey. 

Returning  to  his  home  with  an  honorable  military  record  Mr. 
Hobensack  continued  farm  work  there  until  March  of  1866,  when  he 
came  to  Ohio  and  settled  on  a farm  near  Mt.  Victory.  He  remained 
there  until  1880,  and  being  then  elected  the  sheriff  of  Union  county, 
Ohio,  and  re-elected  for  a second  term  he  moved  to  Marysville,  but 
returned  to  the  farm  in  1886,  and  in  1889  came  to  Hardin  county  and 
retired  from  an  active  business  life. 

On  the  19th  of  February  1865,  he  was  married  to  Emma  E.  Mabrey, 
who  was  born  on  the  12th  of  March,  1839,  a daughter  of  William 
Mabrey,  a Bucks  county,  Pennsylvania,  farmer,  and  of  Hannah  C. 
(Travis)  Mabrey,  his  wife.  The  children  of  this  union  are:  Isaac  K., 
who  married  Letitia  James,  by  whom  he  has  seven  children,  and  he  is 
farming  near  Lima;  Henry  H.  an  engineer  in  AVashington  county,  Ohio, 
is  a widower  with  five  children ; John  W.  who  married  Alice  Taylor  and 
who  died  leaving  a widow  and  two  children;  Annetta  is  deceased;  Carrie 
is  the  wife  of  C.  Longhenry,  of  Columbus,  the  foreman  of  the  Ohio  Tube 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


489 


Company;  Maggie  M.  is  the  wife  of  John  Foster,  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness at  Dayton,  and  they  have  two  children;  William  L.  married  Anna 
Vance  and  he  is  an  engineer  living  in  Columbus;  Lincoln  C.  married  Eva 
Rice  and  is  in  the  railroad  employ  at  Lewisburg,  Ohio ; Onto  T.  married 
F.  Koontz  and  lives  in  Arkansas ; Jessie  is  the  wife  of  Ed.  Hunt,  a dentist 
at  Mt.  Victory;  Elsie  married  George  Miltholser;  and  Everett,  also  with 
the  Ohio  Tube  Company  at  Columbus,  married  Eva  Vance,  and  they 
have  one  child,  Independence,  living  at  home  and  born  on  July  4.  Mr. 
Hobensack  is  a member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  at  Richwood,  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  order  at  Marysville  and  of  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows  in  Union  county.  He  is  a member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  He  is  a representative  citizen  of  Mt.  Victory,  and 
well  known  in  its  business,  official  and  social  life. 

William  Henry  Robinson,  who  resides  on  the  Robinson  homestead 
carries  on  the  farm,  and  was  born  on  this  homestead  November  4,  1854, 
and  is  a son  of  Silas  and  Rebecca  (Paxton)  Robinson,  both  of  whom  are 
mentioned  at  considerable  length  in  the  sketch  of  Mrs.  Rebecca  Robinson, 
found  elsewhere  in  this  work.  He  lived  at  home  until  fifteen  years  of 
age  receiving  his  education  in  the  public  schools,  and  remained  at 
home  until  his  marriage  in  1879.  In  1881  he  moved  to  Ridgeway, 
where  for  two  years  he  operated  a meat  market,  then  moved  to  Logan 
county,  where  he  farmed  two  years,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  moved 
to  Kansas  where  by  a series  of  misfortunes  he  lost  all  he  had  and  re- 
turned to  Ridgeway,  again  embarking  in  business.  In  1889  Mr.  Robin- 
son removed  to  Athens,  Tennessee  on  account  of  his  wife’s  health,  and 
worked  there  three  years  as  a clerk,  when  her  health  returning,  they 
located  in  Mt.  Victory  and  for  seventeen  years  conducted  a hotel. 
In  1908  he  settled  on  the  old  homestead,  and  is  now  engaged  in  its  man- 
aging. Tie  is  an  enterprising,  ambitious  farmer,  who  gives  all  his  time 
to  his  work  and  has  been  successful.  He  is  a public-spirited  citizen, 
and  actively  interested  in  the  progress  and  welfare  of  the  community. 
He  is  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  his  wife  is 
active  in  church  work,  teaching  a class  in  Sunday  school,  is  a member 
of  the  Ladies’  Aid  Society,  and  also  belongs  to  the  home  and  foreign 
missionary  societies,  being  president  of  the  latter.  Mr.  Robinson  is  a 
member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  of  Mt.  Victory, 
and  his  wife  belongs  to  the  Rebekahs  and  the  Maccabees.  Politically  he 
is  a Republican  and  is  noAV  serving  as  district  union  school  treasurer 
and  is  corporation  treasurer. 

William  H.  Robinson  married  Rosanna  Callahan,  who  was  born 
in  Logan  county,  August  14,  1855,  daughter  of  William  Callahan, 
who  died  in  1885,  having  been  born  in  Virginia  in  1813.  He  came 

with  his  parents  to  Ohio  at,  the  age  of  fifteen  years,  and  they  settled 
near  West  Liberty.  Later  he  moved  to  Logan  county  and  there  engaged 
in  the  lumber  business.  In  1861  he  located  in  Ridgeway  and  engaged 
in  milling,  operating  the  first  mill  built  in  that  town.  Previous  to 
this  he  had  built  the  first  saw  mill  and  stave  factory  at  Ridgeway.  He 
also  engaged  in  mercantile  business.  He  died  in  Ridgeway.  He  married 


490 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Jeanette  McDonald,  who  was  born  in  1818,  and  died  November  19,  1906, 
a daughter  of  Ebenezer  and  Elizabeth  McDonald,  who  came  from  Vir- 
ginia and  settled  in  West  Liberty.  Mr.  Callahan’s  father,  Patrick 
Callahan  was  a native  of  Scotland,  settled  in  Champaign  county,  Ohio, 
and  married  Betsey  Winsted.  Mrs.  Robinson’s  grandmother,  Jeanett 
(Kelley)  McDonald,  died  in  1881,  at  the  age  of  eighty-five.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  Joseph  Kelly,  a farmer  who  came  from  Virginia  to  West 
Liberty. 

William  Callahan  and  his  wife  had  several  children,  those  living 
being  James,  a farmer  on  the  old  homestead;  Patrick,  a druggist  of 
Columbus,  Ohio;  Mrs.  Robinson,  who  is  the  third  child;  and  Moses,  in 
the  railway  service,  living  at  Kenton.  William  Callahan  was  one  of 
the  earliest  business  men  of  Ridgeway,  and  through  his  energy  and  good 
management  the  village  was  founded.  In  order  to  be  able  to  pay  for  his 
farm  of  one  hundred  acres,  he  opened  a trading  store  west  of  Kenton, 
trading  beads,  etc.,  to  the  Indians  in  exchange  for  furs.  The  union  of 
W.  IT.  Robinson  and  his  wife  has  been  without  issue. 

George  William  Ansley,  a successful  farmer  of  Hale  township, 
Hardin  couhty,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  February  26, 
1843,  a son  of  Charles  and  Mary  (Spencer)  Ansley.  Charles  Ansley, 
a native  of  Fleming  county,  Kentucky,  born  August  4,  1814,  died  in 
1 898,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years ; he  was  a son  of  Charles  Ansley, 
who  was  a native  of  Scotland.  William  Ansley,  the  grandfather  of 
George  W.,  was  one  of  a family  of  sailors;  he  came  to  the  shores  of 
Maryland  and,  tired  of  sea  life,  traveled  inland  and  located  in  Ken- 
tucky. He  was  a shoemaker  by  trade,  and  he  and  his  wife  came  to 
Kentucky  on  horse  back,  settling  in  Elizaville,  Fleming  county.  In 
1835  they  came  to  Logan  county,  Ohio,  where  they  died.  Their  son 
Charles  followed  farming  until  1851,  when  he  became  engaged  as  a 
contractor  in  railroad  work,  first  in  Kentucky  and  later  in  Ashland  coun- 
ty, Ohio.  He  settled  first  in  Logan  county,  where  he  purchased  a farm 
which  he  later  sold.  He  came  to  Hardin  county  in  the  fall  of  1856,  and 
first  bought  two  hundred  acres  of  land,  building  a log  house  and  begin- 
ning to  clear  his  farm,  by  thrift  and  industry  he  added  to  this  till  he 
owned  three  hundred  and  forty-five  acres.  He  remained  on  this  land  the 
remainder  of  his  life,  farming  and  raising  stock.  Mr.  Ansley  was  a 
Whig  and  later  a Republican,  and  was  a strong  supporter  of  Fremont  for 
president.  His  wife,  Mary  Spencer,  born  in  Kentucky  in  1815,  died 
in  1903 ; she  was  a daughter  of  Charles  and  Eliza  Spencer,  he  being  a 
saddler  by  trade  and  the  town  of  Elizaville,  Kentucky,  was  named 
after  Mrs.  Spencer  or  one  of  her  children.  Mrs.  Ansley  was  one  of 
fourteen  children,  the  only  one  still  surviving  being  “Sis”  Scott,  living 
on  the  old  family  homestead  in  Kentucky. 

Charles  Ansley  and  his  wife  had  six  children,  of  whom  George  W. 
is  the  oldest.  The  others  are:  James  R.,  a farmer  of  Hale  township; 
Mary  Jane,  widow  of  J.  Cook,  of  Harbor  Springs,  Michigan;  Lydia,  wife 
of  William  Allen,  a farmer  of  Logan  county,  Ohio ; Charles  T., ; and 
Johanna,  who  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years. 

The  boyhood  days  of  George  W.  Ansley  were  spent  on  a farm  and 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


491 


he  received  a meager  education.  He  began  plowing  when  a small  boy, 
when  his  head  barely  reached  above  the  plow  handles,  and  continued  to 
help  his  father  until  he  was  twenty-six  years  of  age,  when  he  was 
married.  Mr.  Ansley  came  to  his  present  farm  in  1868,  and  has  four 
hundred  and  forty-five  acres  of  the  best  land  in  the  section  of  the  state, 
where  he  lives.  He  is  one  of  the  most  extensive  farmers  of  Hale  town- 
ship, and  raises  considerable  stock,  about  fifty  head  of  cattle  and  five 
hundred  head  of  sheep  annually.  He  is  an  enterprising,  progressive 
citizen,  and  pays  strict  attention  to  his  business  interests.  He  is  suc- 
cessful as  a farmer,  and  is  considered  one  of  the  representative  men  of 
the  county. 

On  October  3,  1868,  Mr.  Ansley  married  Mary  J.  Andrews,  born  in 
1850,  daughter  of  James  and  Mary  (Hathaway)  Andrews,  who  came  to 
Ohio  from  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1829;  they  settled  on 
their  present  home,  where  he  cut  the  first  brush,  and  his  wife  and  child 
remained  with  the  Dille  family  while  he  erected  a cabin.  Mrs.  Ansley 
has  one  sister,  Anna,  wife  of  0.  S.  Conklin,  of  Jonesburg,  Missouri.  Mr. 
Ansley  and  his  wife  became  the  parents  of  children  as  follows:  Henry, 
living  just  west  of  his  father ; Frank,  living  at  home ; Hattie,  wife  of 
Joe  Bentley,  of  Dayton,  Ohio;  Anna,  wife  of  Charles  Reams,  and  they 
have  three  children ; Joe,  a farmer  of  Dudley  township,  married  Ruby 
Stevenson,  and  they  have  one  child;  and  Waldo  Glen,  living  at  home. 

In  May,  1864,  Mr.  Ansley  enlisted  in  Company  H,  One  Hundred 
and  Thirty-fifth  Ohio  Infantry,  for  service  under  Generals  Sigel  and 
Sheridan,  being  one  of  the  ten  thousand  tendered  to  President  Lincoln 
by  the  Governor  of  Ohio.  He  was  mustered  out  at  Columbus,  Ohio, 
September  1,  1864.  He  and  Ferd  Copp  lay  under  a blanket  when  Jim 
Boyd  of  kit.  Victory,  was  shot  by  a stray  bullet.  Politically  Mr. 
Ansley  is  a Republican,  and  is  an  active  worker  in  the  interests  of  the 
party;  he  served  six  years  as  trustee  of  Hale  township.  He  is  a promi- 
nent member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  Ridgeway 
Lodge  No.  693,  and  belongs  to  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic, 
Ridgeway  Post. 

Charles  Francis  Abbott,  one  of  the  prominent  farmers  of  Dudley 
township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  is  a native  of  Wood  county,  Ohio,  born 
October  8,  1859,  a son  of  Charles  and  Elizabeth  (Shanks)  Abbott. 
Charles  Abbott  was  born  in  Huron  county,  and  became  a farmer.  At 
the  time  of  the  Civil  war  he  enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- 
first  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  died  in  a hospital  the  next  year 
(1863).  having  been  shot  through  the  mouth.  His  widow  died  in  1864, 
at  the  age  of  thirty  years.  Her  father  was  a native  of  Ireland.  Charles 
Abbott’s  father,  Bennett  Abbott,  was  born  in  New  York  state  and  was  a 
farmer.  He  and  his  wife  moved  to  Wood  county,  Ohio,  where  he  died 
in  1870.  at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years.  Charles  F.  Abbott  has  one 
brother,  William  Elwood,  a railway  employe  living  in  Huron  county. 
His  sister  Ida  died  in  1890. 

After  the  death  of  his  mother  Charles  F.  Abbott  and  his  brother  and 
sister  were  placed  in  the  hands  of  their  grandfather  Abbott,  and  after 


492 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


his  death  his  second  wife,  Martha  (Ilallett)  Abbott,  took  care  of  them 
until  they  were  able  to  look  out  for  themselves.  She  is  still  living,  and 
has  reached  the  age  of  ninety-two  years.  After  reaching  the  age  of 
sixteen  years  Charles  F.  Abbott  worked  out  on  a farm  by  the  month 
until  attaining  his  majority.  He  married  and  bought  a small  farm  in 
Wood  county,  where  he  lived  seventeen  years,  and  then  removed  to 
Dudley  township,  Hardin  county,  where  he  now  owns  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  fine  farming  land.  He  carried  on  general  farming 
with  splendid  success  and  made  a specialty  of  stock  raising.  He  has 
now  retired  from  the  harder  labor  of  the  farm  and  is  enjoying  a well- 
earned  rest.  Politically  Mr.  Abbott  is  a Republican,  and  he  has  served 
two  terms  as  township  trustee.  He  is  a member  of  the  United  Brethren 
church  and  has  been  a trustee  of  the  church  for  many  years.  His  wife 
is  also  a member  of  this  church  and  both  are  actively  interested  in  its 
prosperity  and  good  work.  Mr.  Abbott  has  always  worked  with  great 
energy  and  by  his  good  management  and  thrift  has  acquired  a fair 
amount  of  property.  Being  left  an  orphan  at  an  early  age  he  has  felt 
the  necessity  of  looking  out  for  himself  since  childhood,  and  has  always 
demonstrated  his  business  ability. 

Mr.  Abbott  married  Matilda  Ann,  daughter  of  Levi  and  Levina 
(Long)  Helm,  the  father  a native  of  Crawford  county,  Ohio,  and  a 
farmer.  Levi  Helm  was  born  August  27,  1827,  and  died  in  1864.  He 
was  a son  of  John  and  Susanna  (Kirtz)  Helm,  and  he  married  Levina 
Long,  daughter  of  James  and  Matilda  (Markey)  Long,  of  Crawford 
county,  Ohio.  Mrs.  Abbott  has  one  sister  living,  Sarah  Jane,  wife  of 
George  Mell,  a half  sister,  Julia  Ann,  and  a half  brother,  Albert.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Abbott  children  have  been  born  as  follows:  Arthur  J., 

a farmer  of  Goshen  township,  married  Fay  Wilcox,  of  Hepburn,  and  they 
have  five  children,  Audra  Cecil,  Paul  Wilcox,  Clidath,  Justin  and  Alvin 
H. ; William  Frederick,  who  is  now  attending  the  University  of  Michigan, 
in  preparation  for  ministry  in  the  United  Brethren  church,  married 
Grace  Manlier  in  Marion  county ; Ernest  Leroy,  a farmer  of  Dudley 
township,  married  Bessie  Kneisley,  and  they  have  one  child,  Anna  Bell ; 
Ida,  at  home;  Luella  May,  wife  of  George  W.  Breitenstein  (whose 
father’s  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work),  lias  two  children,  Freda 
M.  and  Dortha  May;  Charles  Francis,  at  home;  Earl  Wesley,  at  home; 
and  Clarence  Edmund,  also  living  at  home. 

Mrs.  Susanna  Calvin,  who  for  several  years  managed  the  farm  left 
by  her  husband,  has  now  retired  from  its  active  supervision  and  is  en- 
joying a well-earned  rest.  She  is  the  widow  of  Lorenzo  T.  Calvin,  who 
was  born  May  13,  1834,  and  died  at  his  home  in  Dudley  township  Febru- 
ary 12,  1896.  Mrs.  Calvin  was  born  November  5,  1840,  in  Logan  county, 
Ohio,  and  is  a daughter  of  Hosea  and  Nancy  (Rosebrook)  Johnson,  the 
former  of  whom  died  January  20,  1910,  at  the  age  of  ninety-two  years, 
and  the  latter  was  born  February  11,  1817.  The  Johnson  family  came 
to  Ohio  from  Kentucky  in  1817,  and  settled  in  Logan  county;  they  had 
a family  of  ten  sons  and  two  daughters.  The  Rosebrooks  were  natives 
of  Virginia,  where  the  father  of  Mrs.  Johnson,  Robert  Rosebrook,  had 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


493 


a plantation  ancl  kept  slaves ; the  old  home  and  plantation  are  still  in 
existence,  and  there  her  grandfather  Hilkiah  was  born.  He  died  in 
1837.  Her  grandfather  on  the  paternal  side.  Jacob  Johnson,  married 
Rachel  Green.  Hosea  Johnson  was  the  first  child  born  after  the  family 
settled  in  Ohio. 

As  a girl  Mrs.  Calvin  went  to  school  in  a log  schoolhouse  at  Wolf 
Creek ; her  family  moved  to  Hardin  comity  when  she  was  ten  years  of 
age.  In  her  mother’s  family  (the  Rosebrooks)  were  fifteen  children, 
who  became  scattered  over  many  parts  of  the  country,  and  at  the  last 
birth  in  the  family  triplets  were  born,  two  girls  and  one  boy.  The  two 
girls  died  at  birth  and  the  boy  died  in  the  army.  George  was  his  name. 

On  October  21,  1860,  Susanna  Johnson  married  James  Morrison, 
who  was  born  June  4,  1838,  in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio.  His  father, 
Alexander  Morrison,  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania, 
June  4,  1797,  and  died  at  the  age  of  ninety-one  years;  he  married  Grace 
Dickson,  who  died  in  1880,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years.  In  1851 
they  came  to  Hardin  county,  where  the  remainder  of  their  lives  were 
spent.  James  Morrison  and  his  wife  followed  farming  after  their  mar- 
riage until  his  death.  June  15,  1872,  at  the  age  of  thirty-four  years  and 
on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  Mrs.  Calvin.  He  enlisted  for  service  in 
the  Civil  war,  in  Company  IT,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-fifth  Ohio,  for 
ninety  days.  After  he  was  mustered  out  he  settled  on  the  farm  where 
Mrs.  Calvin  now  lives,  consisting  of  one  hundred  acres,  which  he  cleared. 
The  farm  now  consists  of  one  hundred  and  fifty-five  acres  and  contains 
one  of  the  most  modern  and  handsome  brick  mansions  in  Dudley  town- 
ship. By  her  first  marriage  the  subject  of  this  sketch  had  children  as 
follows:  Robert  H.,  born  October  28,  1862,  who  was  of  great  assistance 
to  his  mother  as  soon  as  he  was  old  enough,  and  now  has  charge  of  the 
farm  for  her,  making  a specialty  of  stock  raising;  Nancy,  who  married 
C.  C.  Davis,  of  Dudley  township,  and  they  have  two  children;  John, 
deceased,  who  left  two  children;  Grace  E..  born  in  1868;  Flora  A.,  born 
in  1869,  married  John  McCullough,  a farmer  of  Dudley  township,  and 
they  have  seven  children;  and  Hosea  E.,  who  married  Bertha  Smiley,  is 
a farmer  of  Dudley  township,  and  they  have  five  children. 

On  February  8,  1880,  Mrs.  Morrison  married  Lorenzo  T.  Calvin, 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  two  daughters,  namely:  Cora  E.,  who 

married  H.  A.  Wilson,  living  near  Kenton,  and  they  have  three 
children ; and  Minnie  married  Ed  Daniels,  a farmer  living  near  Kenton, 
and  they  have  two  children. 

Mrs.  Calvin  is  a woman  of  strong  will  and  brave  character.  During 
the  years  she  lived  a widow  she  was  untiring  in  her  efforts  to  keep  up  the 
standard  of  the  farm  and  rear  her  children  in  the  way  they  should  go. 
She  had  a hard  duty  to  perform,  and  never  faltered  in  her  ambition  to 
do  it  in  the  very  best  manner  that  lay  in  her  power.  She  is  well  known 
in  the  community,  where  she  is  highly  respected  for  her  many  good 
qualities  of  mind  and  heart.  She  has  a multitude  of  friends,  and  is  a 
woman  of  unusual  intelligence  and  business  judgment. 


Vol.  II— 4 


494 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


William  I.  Witcraft,  nOAV  retired  from  active  business  and  living 
at  Mt.  Victory,  Ohio,  is  known  throughout  the  community  as  “Uncle 
Billy.”  He  was  born  in  Warren  county,  Ohio,  February  22,  1822,  and 
is  a son  of  George  and  Amelia  (Golden)  Witcraft.  George  Witcraft 
was  the  son  of  Isaiah  and  Elizabeth  Witcraft,  the  former  of  whom  died 
in  New  Jersey  in  1830,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years.  George  Wit- 
craft was  born  in  1801,  in  New  Jersey,  and  died  in  1855 ; he  was  a farmer, 
brick  layer  and  mason,  and  came  to  Ohio  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years. 
He  took  up  land  in  Logan  county  and  carried  on  farming  there  until 
1852,  when  lie  came  to  Mt.  Victory,  where  he  died.  His  widow  died  in 
1885,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two.  Of  their  eleven  children  only  two  sur- 
vive, namely:  William  I.  and  Elizabeth  Hill,  wife  of  James  Boyd. 

William  Isaiah  Witcraft  attended  the  public  schools  and  afterward 
learned  the  trade  of  brick  and  stone  mason.  When  he  reached  his 
majority  he  began  working  on  his  own  account,  and  on  January  13, 
1896,  came  to  live  with  his  sister  in  Hardin  county.  He  spent  some 
time  with  his  sister  and  went  back  and  forth  between  her  home  and  his 
daughter’s  home.  Mr.  Witcraft  identified  himself  with  the  financial 
affairs  of  Mt.  Victory  and  invested  in  many  enterprises.  In  1890  he 
founded  the  Mt.  Victory  Bank,  serving  as  president  of  the  same  until 
1905. 

Mr.  Witcraft  has  been  very  generously  disposed  toward  many 
worthy  objects  tending  towards  the  growth  and  progress  in  Mount  Vic- 
tory, and  its  citizens  have  reason  to  feel  very  kindly  and  gratefully 
toward  such  a benefactor.  He  donated  four  thousand  dollars  toward 
the  erection  of  the  Methodist  church,  one  of  the  finest  edifices  in  Hardin 
county,  a sum  of  seventeen  hundred  dollars  to  the  Ohio  Northern  Univers- 
ity and  one  thousand  dollars  to  the  Old  People’s  Home  in  Cincinnati. 
He  was,  during  his  active  business  life,  one  of  the  most  progressive  and 
enterprising  business  men  in  the  county,  but  alway  found  time  to  con- 
sider the  needs  of  any  institution  for  the  benefit  of  the  public.  He  gave 
freely  to  churches  of  any  denomination  needing  pecuniary  assistance 
within  many  miles  of  Mount  Victory,  and  though  now  advanced  in 
years  he  still  takes  an  active  interest  in  the  cause  of  charity  and  the 
Gospel.  As  his  business  enterprises  have  been  successful  and  he  has 
gained  in  wealth  he  has  felt  it  a privilege  to  help  others  less  fortunate. 
He  is  an  earnest  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  has 
served  sixty  years  as  a trustee  and  steward  as  well  as  being  a class  leader. 
Politically  Mr.  Witcraft  is  a Republican,  though  he  has  never  cared  for 
public  office. 

Mr.  Witcraft  was  industrious  and  ambitious  from  early  youth,  and 
as  the  oldest  son  was  of  great  assistance  to  his  father  in  clearing  land. 
The  original  farm  consisted  of  four  hundred  acres.  Later  Mr.  Witcraft 
cleared  land  for  himself,  at  first  clearing  ten  acres  and  building  a cabin 
with  no  floor  or  doors.  His  father  was  of  English  descent  and  his 
mother’s  family  came  to  Warren  county,  Ohio,  from  Kentucky.  His 
family  has  been  well  known  in  Hardin  county  more  than  half  a century, 
and  they  have  been  universally  esteemed  and  respected.  Several  years 


r 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


495 


ago  Mr.  Witcraft  divided  his  large  real  estate  holdings  among  his  two 
children,  thus  giving  each  a very  good  financial  start. 

Mr.  Witcraft  married  Margaret  Wallace,  who  died  in  1894,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-seven  years,  and  they  had  three  children,  one  of  whom 
survives,  Sarah  Elizabeth,  wife  of  R.  W.  Williams,  a farmer  of  Logan 
county,  Ohio.  Mr.  Witcraft  has  ten  grandchildren  and  twenty  great- 
grandchildren ; he  lives  with  a son-in-law. 

Miniter  J.  Robinson. — Farming  offers  a very  profitable  field  ot 
endeavor  in  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  and  among  the  successful  men  engaged 
in  this  industry  is  Miniter  J.  Robinson,  of  Dudley  township,  who  was 
born  on  the  old  Robinson  homestead,  September  8,  1852,  son  of  Silas 
and  Rebecca  (Paxton)  Robinson,  the  former  deceased  and  the  latter  now 
living  on  the  home  farm.  The  parents  are  given  mention  at  length  in 
connection  with  the  sketch  of  Mrs.  Rebecca  Robinson,  found  in  another 
page  of  this  work. 

Miniter  J.  Robinson  received  a good  education  in  the  public  schools, 
but  as  his  father  died  when  he  was  twelve  years  old  his  days  at  school 
were  necessarily  cut  short,  he  being  the  oldest  child.  He  tried  to  take 
his  father’s  place  in  the  work  of  carrying  on  the  farm,  and  though  so 
young  did  nobly,  remaining  on  the  farm  until  1873,  when  he  was  married 
and  took  active  management  of  affairs,  which  he  continued  until  1905, 
and  in  that  year  became  manager  of  the  well-known  Wessling  farm, 
sometimes  known  as  the  old  Wheeler  farm,  in  Dudley  township.  Here 
he  has  a large  enterprise  under  his  care,  having  five  assistants  under  his 
direction,  and  he  carries  on  general  farming  and  stock  raising  on  an 
extensive  scale.  He  also  owns  one  hundred  and  thirteen  acres  himself, 
a part  of  the  old  homestead. 

On  December  25,  1873,  Mr.  Robinson  married  Serena  E.  Archer, 
born  May  4,  1855,  at  Rushsylvania,  Ohio,  daughter  of  Nicholas  and 
Margaret  (Bavles)  Archer,  the  former  living  in  Buck  township,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-three  years,  and  the  latter  deceased.  Mrs.  Robinson  has 
two  brothers  and  two  sisters  living.  To  her  and  her  husband  children 
were  born  as. follows:  Orla  E.  married  Lola  Goff,  and  they  live  on  the 
home  farm ; Oscar  LI.,  also  on  the  home  farm,  married  Clara  Collins  and 
they  have  one  child,  Ona  ; Blanch,  wife  of  John  Sieg,  a farmer  of  Taylor 
Creek  township,  and  they  have  one  child,  Edward;  Florence,  wife  of 
Charles  Higgins,  an  engineer,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  they  have  one 
child,  Rachel  J. ; Ruah,  wife  of  Charles  Smith,  a farmer  of  Hale  town- 
ship ; and  Paul,  at  home. 

Airs.  Robinson  died  February  10,  1909,  at  the  age  of  fifty-three 
years,  nine  months  and  six  days.  She  was  a most  estimable  woman,  and 
her  loss  is  deeply  felt  by  a large  circle  of  sorrowing  friends.  She  was 
a.  very  earnest  and  devout  member  of  the  Methodist  Protestant 
church,  in  whose  interests  she  was  an  active  worker.  She  was  intensely 
interested  in  every  good  work  and  cause,  and  many  received  the  benefits 
of  her  kind,  charitable  disposition.  She  was  a woman  of  lovely  charac- 
ter, who  made  friends  easily,  and  who  had  the  faculty  of  holding  the 
affection  and  esteem  of  all  who  knew  her. 


496 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Mr.  Robinson  is  an  ardent  Republican  and  an  active  worker  for  the 
party.  However,  he  has  lately  had  little  time  for  political  affairs,  on 
account  of  managing  and  superintending  the  work  of  the  large  farm  of 
which  he  is  in  charge.  This  farm  is  mentioned  further  in  connection 
with  the  sketch  of  A.  G.  Wessling,  of  Kenton,  Ohio,  given  elsewhere  in 
this  work. 

Jacob  N.  Banning,  widely  known  and  highly  esteemed  as  a man  and 
a citizen,  is  numbered  among  the  active  and  practical  workers  who  are 
doing  so  much  towards  developing  and  maintaining  the  agricultural 
interests  of  Hepburn,  his  sound  sense  and  efficient  business  methods 
giving  him  an  important  place  in  the  community.  A native  of  Hardin 
county,  he  was  born  October  7,  1867,  in  Dudley  township,  where  his 
father,  the  late  George  Banning,  spent  his  earlier  life. 

His  paternal  grandfather,  Jacob  Banning,  migrated  from  Pennsyl- 
vania, his  native  state,  to  Ohio,  becoming  a pioneer  of  Knox  county. 
He  located  at  Mount  Vernon  during  the  first  quarter  of  the  nineteenth 
century  and  there  began  to  establish  a home  for  himself  and  family. 
He  died  while  yet  in  the  prime  of  a vigorous  manhood,  in  1832.  His 
wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Sophia  Zimmerman,  was  born  in  Holland, 
of  ancestors  noted  for  their  industry  and  thrift.  Left  a widow  when 
young,  with  twelve  children  to  care  for,  she  came  during  the  following 
year  to  Dudley  township,  Hardin  county,  locating  on  what  is  now  known 
as  the  old  Banning  homestead,  and  here  brought  up  her  children  and 
educated  them,  rearing  them  to  lives  of  usefulness  and  content. 

Born  at  Mount  Vernon,  Knox  county,  Ohio,  in  1827,  George  Banning 
was  but  six  years  of  age  when  he  came  with  his  widowed  mother  and  the 
family  to  Dudley  township.  As  soon  as  physically  able  he  began  work- 
ing on  the  home  farm,  remaining  with  his  mother  until  taking  unto  him- 
self a helpmeet.  In  the  meantime  he  had  bought  land  lying  north  of 
Hepburn,  and  having  settled  upon  it  with  his  bride  he  began  its 
improvement.  In  addition  to  general  farming,  he  subsequently  intro- 
duced stock  raising,  for  many  years  making  a specialty  of  breeding  sheep 
and  horses,  and  continued  thus  engaged  until  his  death,  in  1889.  He 
married  Nancy  J.  Smith,  who  was  born  in  1845,  and  is  a sister  of  E.  E. 
Smith,  of  whom  a brief  sketch  may  be  found  on  another  page  of  this 
volume.  Ten  children  blessed  their  union,  as  follows:  Jacob  N.,  the 

subject  of  this  sketch;  Nathan,  a ranchman  in  California;  George  A.,  of 
Hepburn,  engaged  in  farming;  Mary,  wife  of  M.  Everhast,  a farmer  in 
Dudley  township;  William,  of  Hepburn;  Frank,  engaged  in  ranching 
in  California ; Howard,  a farmer  in  Winchester,  Indiana ; Avis,  wife  of 
E.  Dickerson,  of  Stark  county,  Ohio;  Inez,  twin  sister  of  Avis,  living  at 
home;  and  John,  living  at  home. 

Leaving  home  at  the  age  of  twenty  years,  Jacob  N.  Banning  worked 
as  a farm  hand  in  Iowa  for  a year,  also  following  the  trade  of  a barber 
to  some  extent.  He  subsequently  spent  one  year  in  Colorado  and  New 
Mexico.  While  in  Colorado  he  opened  a claim,  managed  a road  house 
and  also  engaged  in  teaming,  carrying  passengers  mostly  to  near-by 
places.  Returning  then  to  Dudley  township,  Mr.  Banning  had  charge  of 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


497 


the  parental  acres  for  seven  years,  afterwards  renting  adjoining  land  for 
five  years.  Buying  then  his  present  farfn  in  Hepburn,  he  has  since 
been  prosperously  engaged  in  its  management,  and  in  addition  to  his 
agricultural  labors  has  followed  his  trade  of  a barber,  being  one  of  the 
most  popular  tonsorial  artists  of  the  place. 

Mr.  Banning  married,  in  1891,  Emma  E.  Shaffner,  who  was  born 
November  5,  1870,  in  Hardin  county.  Her  father,  Frederick  Shaffner, 
a native  of  Switzerland,  was  a moulder  by  trade,  and  after  coming  to 
this  country  followed  it  first  in  Buffalo,  New  York,  and  afterwards  in 
Columbus,  Ohio.  Locating  in  Hardin  county  in  1860,  he  bought  land 
and  was  employed  in  tilling  the  soil  until  his  death,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
five  years,  in  1906.  To  him  and  his  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Elizabeth  Amneg.  five  children  were  born,  namely : Elizabeth,  wife  of 

William  Gaston,  a farmer  in  Kenton;  Gallic,  who  married  John  Vogel, 
a farmer  near  Dunkirk;  Fred,  engaged  in  farming  in  Dudley  township; 
Eva,  deceased ; and  Mrs.  Banning.  Mrs.  Shaffner  is  still  living,  being 
now  seventy-five  years  of  age.  Of  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Banning- 
four  children  have  been  born,  namely:  Amy,  born  in  1891;  Eva,  born 
in  1893;  Ralph,  deceased;  and  Ruth,  born  in  1902.  Mr.  Banning  is  a 
stanch  Democrat  in  politics,  but  has  never  sought  public  office,  his  pri- 
vate affairs  engrossing  his  time  and  attention. 

Mrs.  Clara  Shark  Lingo  was  born  January  19,  1858,  in  Union 
county,  Ohio,  and  is  a daughter  of  Simon  and  Marion  (Weiggle)  Shark, 
the  former  a brother  of  Jesse  Shark,  a sketch  of  whom  appears  elsewhere 
in  this  work.  Mr.  Shark  died  in  1902,  at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years, 
and  his  wife  died  in  1895,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine. 

On  November  29,  1885,  Clara  Shark  married  Alvin  Lingo,  a farmer 
born  on  the  Lingo  homestead  March  10,  1856,  and  a prosperous  farmer 
of  Dudley  township.  He  was  a son  of  James  H.  Lingo,  who  died  in 
1889,  at  the  age  of  seventy -four  years.  He  was  a native  of  Sussex 
county,  Delaware,  and  was  the  first  of  the  Lingo  family  to  settle  in 
Hardin  county,  locating  northeast  of  the  present  home  in  1839.  How- 
ever, through  a defect  in  his  title  he  lost  his  first  farm  and  purchased 
the  present  home,  wThere  he  farmed  all  his  life.  He  is  a member  of  the 
United  Brethren  church  and  was  one  of  its  founders.  Though  a Re- 
publican he  is  not  actively  interested  in  political  matters,  although  he 
served  as  trustee.  He  married  Emeline  Kemper,  born  in  1816,  daughter 
of  Samuel  and  Catherine  (Sheets)  Kemper.  She  was  a native  of 
Virginia  and  died  in  1888.  The  grandfather,  John  Lingo,  married 
Patience  Dodds ; he  was  a planter  and  slave  owner  in  Virginia. 

James  Lingo  and  his  wife  endured  the  hardships  of  pioneer  life,  and 
at  one  time  had  but  one  pair  of  shoes  between  them.  He  paid  his  first 
tax  with  silver  half-dollars  which  had  been  given  him  by  his  mother. 

A1  Lingo  attended  public  school  until  eighteen  years  of  age,  and 
then  farmed  for  his  father  until  the  time  of  his  marriage.  He  then 
purchased  the  old  Fisher  home,  which  is  still  the  family  home.  He 
married  first,  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years,  October  10,  1875,  Clara 
Fisher,  who  died  in  1883,  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven  years.  She  was  a 


498 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


daughter  of  Edwin  and  Rachel  (Banning)  Fisher.  The  Fisher  family 
is  given  mention  at  length  in  connection  with  the  sketch  of  Azel  Ballin- 
ger, found  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Mr.  Lingo  and  his  wife  had  children 
as  follows:  Clara  Edna,  wife  of  M.  Harvey  (mentioned  elsewhere  in 

this  work),  of  Mt.  Victory,  and  James,  a hardware  merchant  of  Hepburn, 
whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Mr.  Lingo  married  for 
his  second  wife  Clara  Shark,  and  to  this  marriage  two  children  were 
born : George,  a merchant  of  Hepburn,  a sketch  of  whom  appears  else- 

where in  this  work;  and  Holmes  B.,  born  February  28,  1892,  living  at 
home.  Mrs.  Lingo  is  one  of  nine  children  who  survive.  Mr.  Lingo 
has  brothers  and  sisters  as  follows:  James  H.,  a farmer  of  Dudley  town- 
ship; Edward,  a merchant  of  Larue;  Lafayette,  a farmer;  and  Patience, 
wife  of  Joseph  Smith,  a farmer. 

For  the  past  twenty-five  years  Mr.  Lingo  has  been  a member  of  the 
school  board,  and  he  is  a member  of  the  United  Brethren  church,  as  is 
his  wife.  They  are  well  known  in  Hardin  county,  and  have  a host  of 
friends.  They  have  a pleasant  home,  and  are  highly  esteemed  by  all  who 
know  them.  Mr.  Lingo  carries  on  general  farming  and  raises  some  stock. 

James  Lingo,  a successful  hardware  merchant  of  Hepburn,  Ohio, 
was  born  in  Dudley  township,  Hardin  county,  April  27,  1881,  and  is  a 
son  of  Alvin  and  Clara  (Fisher)  Lingo,  both  also  natives  of  Dudley 
township.  Alvin  Lingo  was  born  March  10,  1856,  a son  of  James  H.  and 
Emeline  (Kemper)  Lingo,  who  settled  in  Dudley  township,  Hardin 
county,  among  the  early  settlers,  and  lived  on  a farm  the  remainder  of 
their  lives.  When  James  II.  Lingo  and  his  wife  first  came  to  Ohio  they 
endured  many  hardships,  and  at  first  possessed  but  one  pair  of  shoes 
between  them,  so  that  whichever  one  had  outdoor  work  to  do,  wore  the 
shoes  at  the  time.  He  was  born  in  Delaware,  November  16,  1814,  and 
his  wife,  a native  of  Virginia,  was  born  December  21,  1816. 

Alvin  Lingo  is  a farmer,  and  became  a prominent  citizen  of  Dudley 
township.  He  is  a member  of  the  United  Brethren  church,  a strong 
Republican,  and  is  well  known  in  the  vicinity  of  his  home.  He  served 
many  years  as  a member  of  the  school  board  of  Dudley  township.  His 
wife  was  a daughter  of  Edwin  and  Rachel  (Banning)  Fisher,  the  latter 
born  March  27,  1822,  and  died  in  1858.  Clara  (Fisher)  Lingo  was 
born  May  31,  1857,  and  died  August  25,  1883. 

Besides  James  Lingo  his  parents  had  but  one  child,  Clara  Edna, 
born  July  6,  1879,  wife  of  M.  O.  Harvey,  a merchant  of  Mt.  Victory. 
Alvin  Lingo  married  for  his  second  wife  Clara  Shark,  born  January  19, 
1858,  a daughter  of  Simon  and  Maria  (Wiggle)  Shark,  of  Madison 
county,  Ohio.  Of  this  marriage  were  born  two  children,  namely: 
George  A.,  born  May  7,  1887,  married  Edith  Clement  and  is  a clerk  in 
Hepburn  for  his  brother ; and  Holmes,  born  February  28,  1892,  unmar- 
ried and  living  with  his  parents  on  the  farm. 

The  early  days  of  James  Lingo  were  spent  in  his  native  township, 
and  he  attended  the  public,  schools  until  sixteen  years  of  age;  he  re- 
mained with  his  parents  until  he  was  of  age  and  taught  school  to  earn 
his  way  through  a two  years’  course  at  Ada  University.  Mr.  Lingo 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


499 


embarked  in  his  present  business  at  Hepburn  in  1905,  and  has  been  suc- 
cessful from  the  start.  He  now  owns  one  of  the  largest  hardware  and 
agricultural  implement  establishments  in  this  section  of  the  country, 
and  does  an  annual  business  of  some  twenty  thousand  dollars.  When 
he  first  started  in  this  business  he  purchased  a half  interest  in  the  store 
of  J.  C.  Noyes,  and  in  February,  1906,  bought  the  entire  business.  He 
is  an  enterprising  and  wide-awake  business  man  and  has  won  his  present 
standing  and  financial  success  through  his  owtl  efforts.  Politically  he  is 
a Republican,  actively  interested  in  local  affairs,  and  now  holds  the 
office  of  township  clerk. 

Mr.  Lingo  married  September  24,  1903,  Anna  Robinson,  born  April 
27,  1885,  in  Marion  county,  Ohio,  daughter  of  Willis  and  Abbie  (Thew) 
Robinson,  who  now  live  in  Montgomery  township.  Willis  is  a son  of 
Alexander  and  Sarah  (Carter)  Robinson,  the  former  a farmer  and  still 
living  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years,  and  his  wife  died  in  1898,  at  the 
age  of  sixty-two  years.  Willis  Robinson  was  born  August  27,  1858, 
and  is  a farmer ; his  wife  was  born  March  18,  1860.  Mr.  Lingo  and  his 
wife  have  three  children,  namely : Pauline,  born  November  27,  1904  ; 

Thela,  January  11,  1907 ; and  James,  Jr.,  September  29,  1908. 

Jasper  Newton  Richardson  is  one  of  the  prominent  men  of  Mt. 
Victory  and  the  president  of  the  Mt.  Victory  State  Bank.  He  was  born 
in  Kenton,  Ohio,  September  6,  1846,  a son  of  Aaron  Richardson  and 
a grandson  on  the  paternal  side  of  Barnett  Richardson,  a Virginia 
farmer,  and  of  Elizabeth  Jenkins,  his  wife.  Barnett  Richardson  came 
to  Champaign  county,  Ohio,  and  later  to  Hale  township,  Hardin  county, 
locating  near  Mt.  Victory,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
He  was  a member  of  the  Free  Will  Baptist  church,  and  in  politics  was 
identified  with  both  the  Whig  and  Republican  parties.  Aaron  Richard- 
son, his  son,  after  leaving  the  school  room  followed  the  carpenter’s 
trade  until  the  age  of  forty  years  at  Kenton  Ohio,  and  he  then  bought  a 
farm  in  Union'  county,  but  selling  that  property  in  1902  he  retired  from 
an  active  business  life  and  is  now  living  in  Toledo,  Ohio,  having  reached 
the  age  of  ninety-one  years.  He  too  is  a member  of  the  Free  Will 
Baptist  church.  His  first  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Maria  Topliff, 
and  she  died  in  1848,  when  but  twenty-one  years  of  age.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  Horatio  Topliff,  from  the  State  of  Connecticut,  and  Jasper 
Newton  was  her  only  child.  Mr.  Richardson  subsequently  married 
Clarinda  Young,  also  deceased,  and  she  became  the  mother  of  five 
children:  Benton  R.,  living  in  Hale  township;  James  C.,  whose  home  is 
in  California ; Moody,  living  in  Toledo ; Wheeler,  of  Union  county, 
Ohio ; and  Maria,  wife  of  Abner  Baldwin,  also  in  California. 

After  leaving  school  at  the  age  of  twenty  years  Jasper  N. 
Richardson  farmed  with  his  grandfather  until  his  marriage.  At  the 
age  of  seventeen,  on  the  22nd  of  February,  1864,  at  Kenton,  he  en- 
listed for  service  in  the  Civil  war,  joining  Company  A,  Eighty-second 
Ohio  Infantry,  and  going  with  his  command  to  Bridgeport,  Alabama, 
he  was  engaged  in  guard  duty,  and  following  his  participation  in 
the  Atlanta  campaign  and  his  march  with  Sherman  to  the  sea  he  was 


500 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


sent  to  Washington,  D.  C.,  and  then  to  Louisville,  Kentucky,  where  he 
was  mustered  out  of  the  service  on  the  20th  of  July,  1865.  Returning 
to  his  home  he  again  took  up  the  work  of  the  farm  in  connection  with 
the  lumber  business,  and  continued  actively  in  those  occupations  until 
1900  he  became  a stockholder  and  the  vice-president  of  the  Mt.  Victory 
State  Bank  and  in  1907  he  was  made  the  president  of  the  bank,  one  of 
the  strongest  financial  institutions  of  Hardin  county. 

On  the  24th  of  November,  1884,  Mr.  Richardson  was  married  to 
Christina  E.  Reams,  who  was  born  November  24,  1846,  near  Zanesfield 
in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  and  she  died  on  the  29th  of  January,  1909,  in 
Alt.  Victory.  She  was  a daughter  of  J.  II.  and  Mary  (McDonald) 
Reams,  and  the  former  born  in  the  old  block  house  at  Zanesfield,  Feb- 
ruary 5,  1813,  was  a farmer  and  a local  minister  in  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church.  He  fought  the  Indians  with  General  Hull  in  the  Black 
Feet  war,  and  died  on  the  26th  of  February,  1878,  in  Mt.  Victory. 
Mrs.  Reams  was  born  December  12,  1816,  in  Alleghany  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  she  died  in  Mt.  Victory  on  the  8th  of  January,  1900. 
John  Id.  Reams  and  Mary  McDonald  were  married  on  the  26th  of  July, 
1833.  Mrs.  Richardson  was  an  active  and  valued  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist church.  She  was  also  associated  with  the  Rebekali  lodge  of  Odd 
Fellows  as  its  president  and  was  a member  of  the  Woman’s  Relief 
Corps.  She  died  without  issue  and  her  life  was  devoted  to  her  home, 
to  her  husband  and  to  her  many  friends.  She  was  a lady  of  the  most 
sterling  traits  of  character,  loved  and  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  her. 
Mr.  Richardson  is  a member  of  the  Masonic  order  at  Kenton,  affiliating 
with  the  Blue  Lodge  No.  154,  with  the  Commandery  No.  58,  with  the 
Chapter  and  with  the  Council  No.  65.  He  is  also  a member  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protec- 
tive Order  of  Elks  at  Kenton.  He  supports  the  principles  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  he  has  served  Mt.  Victory  as  member  of  its  council. 

John  Oliver  Dunson,  a farmer  living  at  Hepburn,  Ohio,  is  a native 
of  Hardin  county,  born  on  the  old  family  homestead  July  25,  1852,  son 
of  Lewis  and  Margaret  (Plewes)  Dunson,  a sketch  of  whom  will  be  found 
in  connection  with  that  of  W.  M.  Dunson.  The  youth  of  John  O. 
Dunson  was  spent  on  his  father’s  farm  and  he  attended  school  in  the 
neighborhood,  receiving  a good  common  school  education.  When  he  was 
about  twenty-two  years  of  age  he  began  working  at  the  trade  of  carpen- 
ter and  followed  the  same  until  he  reached  the  age  of  thirty.  He  worked 
at  farming  after  he  gave  up  work  at  his  trade,  and  in  1892  bought  a farm 
south  of  Hepburn,  which  he  sold  in  1895  and  moved  to  Hepburn.  He 
followed  his  trade  with  good  success  many  years,  and  in  1900  bought 
his  present  farm  of  fifty-three  acres,  which  he  still  works.  He  has  won 
success  through  his  own  efforts,  and  has  always  been  very  ambitious  and 
energetic.  He  has  ever  exhibited  strict  honesty  and  integrity  in  his 
business  dealings,  and  in  all  transactions  has  proven  his  sound  judgment 
and  sagacity. 

In  1882  Mr.  Dunson  married  Josephine  Hatcher,  who  was  born  in 
Hale  township,  May  9,  1862,  daughter  of  Nathanal  O.  and  Elizabeth 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


501 


(Harple)  Hatcher.  Mr.  Hatcher  was  born  in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  and 
died  March  2,  1881,  at  the  age  of  thirty -nine  years;  his  widow  survived 
him  many  years  and  died  March  7,  1902,  at  the  age  of  seventy  years. 
Nathanal  Hatcher  was  born  November  28,  1842,  and  was  a son  of  Daniel 
Hatcher,  a native  of  Virginia,  whose  widow  came  to  Hardin  county  to 
live  with  her  son  Nathanal  and  died  in  1861.  Elizabeth  Harple  was  a 
daughter  of  Conrad  and  Magdalene  Harple,  who  moved  from  Pennsyl- 
vania to  Carroll  county,  Ohio,  and  eight  years  later  moved  to  Hardin 
county,  where  he  died  June  12,  1870,  and  his  widow  died  July  8,  1877. 
Besides  Mrs.  Dunson  her  parents  had  children  as  follows:  John,  a 

farmer  living  near  Mt.  Victory;  George,  a farmer  living  in  Texas;  Emma, 
who  married  Charles  Burger,  and  is  now  deceased ; Harry,  a farmer 
living  near  Mt.  Victory.  Mr.  Hatcher  and  his  wife  lived  for  some  time 
on  a farm  in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  and  in  1860  moved  to  Hardin  county 
and  carried  on  farming.  The  family  spent  thirty-three  years  on  the 
farm,  remaining  there  some  time  after  Mr.  Hatcher’s  death,  and  then 
moved  to  Mt.  Victory,  where  Mrs.  Hatcher  died.  Mr.  Hatcher  enlisted 
in  1862,  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-first  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry, 
and  served  until  the  end  of  the  war.  He  was  captured  and  sent  to 
Libby  prison,  but  was  later  exchanged.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he 
returned  home  and  resumed  farming.  Mrs.  Dunson  is  a member  of  the 
Christian  church. 

To  Mr.  Dunson  and  his  wife  children  have  been  born  as  follows: 
Goldie  L.,  born  in  1887,  living  in  Kenton;  Maud  Oma,  born  in  1890, 
teaching  school ; and  Zelma  Emma,  born  in  1892,  attending  school.  Mr. 
Dunson  is  a member  of  the  Maccabees.  Politically  he  is  a Republican, 
though  he  has  never  held  public  office. 

Frank  Wheeler,  a prosperous  and  substantial  farmer  of  Dudley 
township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  is  the  last  one  in  Hardin  county  of  the 
well-known  Wheeler  family  who  kept  the  historic  Wheeler  Tavern  for 
several  years.  Mr.  Wheeler  was  born  in  the  Wheeler  Tavern,  April  7, 
1851,  and  is  a son  of  Amos  and  Maria  (Banning)  Wheeler.  Amos 
Wheeler  came  to  Hardin  county  with  his  parents  when  twelve  years  of 
age.  They  built  the  Wheeler  Tavern  and  also  conducted  a farm.  His 
father  remained  with  his  parents  until  twenty-six  years  of  age,  then 
carried  on  farming,  renting  land  from  his  parents  ten  years,  during 
which  time  he  lived  with  his  wife  at  the  tavern.  He  took  possession  of 
the  tavern  and  conducted  a grocery  store  in  connection  with  it,  these 
enterprises  being  turned  over  to  him  by  his  parents  after  his  marriage. 

Amos  Wheeler,  in  partnership  with  a brother,  opened  a general  store 
and  warehouse  at  Larue,  which  they  continued  four  years,  when  Amos 
began  farming  in  Dudley  township.  In  December,  1860,  Amos  Wheeler 
enlisted  in  the  Eighty-second  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry  and  served  to  the 
end  of  the  war.  He  participated  in  many  engagements,  was  promoted 
to  rank  of  lieutenant  and  later  to  that  of  captain.  When  he  was  mus- 
tered out  he  returned  home  and  lived  five  years  on  the  old  homestead, 
where  his  death  occurred.  He  was  a member  of  the  Baptist  church, 
politically  was  a Republican  and  held  many  township  offices.  He  died 


502 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


in  1870,  at  the  age  of  fifty-one  years.  He  married  Marie  Banning,  who 
died  in  1907,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years.  She  was  a daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Sophia  (Zimmerman)  Banning.  Besides  Frank  Wheeler, 
his  parents  had  children  as  follows:  Fortius,  of  California;  Alice,  of 

California ; Eva,  deceased ; Amy,  a teacher  in  California ; and  Maud, 
deceased.  Sophia  Banning  came  to  Hardin  county  from  Knox  county, 
Ohio,  a widow  with  twelve  children,  and  located  on  a claim  of  six  hundred 
acres  which  her  husband  had  purchased  before  his  death.  She  came  to 
this  land  in  1838,  and  by  her  energy  and  thrift,  with  the  help  of  her 
children,  was  able  to  rear  them  in  comfort  and  carry  on  her  farm  in  a 
creditable  manner.  She  was  the  foremost  pioneer  woman  of  her  time, 
and  her  brave  spirit  was  greatly  admired  by  all.  She  formed  the  first 
Methodist  class  in  Dudley  township,  and  was  active  in  religious  matters. 

The  father  of  Amos,  Portius  Wheeler,  was  born  in  Vermont,  and 
died  in  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  in  1874,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years. 
He  moved  to  Ohio  when  a young  man,  settling  in  Marion  county  and  in 
1833  lie  removed  to  Hardin  county,  locating  where  the  old  Wheeler 
Tavern  now  stands.  He  first  erected  a log  house  opposite  the  tavern  and 
in  1836  erected  that  celebrated  building  which  has  been  a landmark  for 
so  many  years.  He  also  carried  on  farming  and  conducted  a general 
store  as  well.  After  the  advent  of  the  railroad  he  devoted  his  whole 
time  to  his  farming  interests.  He  married  Jane  Burnsides,  who  died 
in  1870,  at  the  age  of  seventy  years.  To  them  eight  children  were  born, 
of  whom  one  still  survives,  Nelson. 

Frank  Wheeler  spent  his  youth  on  a farm  and  acquired  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools.  After  the  death  of  his  father  he  remained 
with  his  mother  until  thirty-two  years  of  age,  when  he  married  and 
located  on  Wild  Cat  creek,  remaining  there  until  1901.  He  then  located 
on  his  present  fine  farm  near  Hepburn,  where  he  has  been  very  successful, 
especially  in  stock  raising.  He  is  one  of  the  well-known  and  popular 
citizens  of  the  county,  and  is  highly  esteemed  by  all  who  know  him.  His 
father  and  grandfather  were  actively  engaged  in  business  in  Hardin 
county  for  many  years,  and  did  their  share  toward  the  progress  and 
development  of  the  community.  Mr.  Wheeler  is  a Republican  in 
politics,  and  served  six  years  as  township  treasurer. 

On  November  12,  1883,  Mr.  Wheeler  married  Susan  Frazer,  who  was 
born  November  12,  1859,  daughter  of  Rusellus  Frazer,  of  Portage  county, 
who  settled  in  Goshen  township,  Hardin  county,  in  1855.  Mr.  Frazer 
died  in  1885,  at  the  age  of  fifty-eight  years.  He  married  Nancy  Barrett, 
of  Muskingum  county,  formerly  a teacher.  His  father,  Joseph  Frazer, 
was  a native  of  Vermont,  and  married  Susan  Poe,  daughter  of  Adam  Po6, 
the  well-known  old  Indian  fighter,  who  killed  Big  Foot,  an  Indian  chief, 
in  a fight  or  duel  which  took  place  in  the  water.  Besides  Mrs.  Wheeler, 
R.  Frazer  and  his  wife  had  children  as  follows:  Alice,  now  Mrs.  George 
Johnson,  of  Goshen  ; Chalmers,  a farmer  of  Hale  township ; and  Courtney 
also  a farmer.  Mrs.  Wheeler  is  a member  of  the  Methodist  church 
and  is  also  connected  with  the  Ladies’  Aid,  and  the  Home  Missionary 
Society,  of  which  she  is  corresponding  secretary. 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


503 


Samuel  Hile. — The  Hile  family  has  been  well  known  in  Hardin 
county  for  over  a half  century,  and  one  representative  of  the  family  who 
has  attained  a very  fair  degree  of  success  is  Samuel  Hile,  a prominent 
farmer  of  Dudley  township,  who  is  now  serving  as  a justice  of  the  peace. 
Mr.  Hile  was  born  in  the  township  where  he  now  resides,  January  30, 
1866,  and  is  a son  of  Nicholas  and  Anna  (Freudiger)  Hile,  the  former  a 
native  of  Germany  and  the  latter  of  Switzerland.  Nicholas  Hile  was 
born  in  1832,  in  Hesse  Castle,  Germany,  and  in  1851  came  to  the  United 
States  with  a brother,  locating  in  Kenton,  Ohio,  where  for  a year  he  was 
employed  in  helping  to  build  the  Big  Four  railroad.  At  that  time  they 
laid  the  old  “T”  rails  on  ties  lengthwise  on  the  track.  He  then  farmed 
a year  and  for  a year  worked  on  the  railroad  as  brakeman.  He  next 
engaged  to  work  for  Wheeler  & DeLong,  of  Larue,  and  when  the  firm 
failed  he  received  in  lieu  of  the  money  due  him  a deed  for  seventy-five 
acres  of  land  now  in  the  central  point  of  Dudley  township.  He  moved 
to  this  land  and  erected  a log  house  where  the  present  house  now  stands. 
Nicholas  Hile  enlisted  for  ninety  days  and  served  in  Company  H,  One 
Hundred  and  Thirty-fifth  Ohio,  then  returned  home  and  resumed  farm- 
ing on  his  homestead,  which  he  continued  until  his  death,  in  1891.  He 
was  formerly  a member  of  the  Methodist  church,  but  later  joined  the 
United  Brethren  church.  Politically  he  was  a Democrat,  and  was  a 
patriotic,  useful  citizen,  who  did  his  duty  by  his  adopted  country,  in  time 
of  peace  or  war.  He  was  honored  by  receiving  an  ‘ ‘ honorable  mention  ’ ’ 
certificate  voted  him  by  congress,  signed  by  E.  Stanton  and  Abraham 
Lincoln.  His  wife  was  born  March  21,  1810,  and  now  lives  with  her 
son  on  the  old  homestead.  She  was  brought  to  America  by  her  parents 
when  six  years  of  age,  and  they  settled  near  the  Hile  family.  Her 
father,  Samuel  Freudiger,  was  born  in  1806  and  died  in  1857 ; he  settled 
in  Dudley  township  in  1816,  and  there  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
His  wife,  Verina  Meyer,  was  born  in  1808,  and  died  in  1856.  Besides 
Samuel,  the  surviving  children  are:  George,  living  on  the  homestead 

with  his  mother;  Verina,  wife  of  B.  Baughman,  a farmer  of  Dudley 
township,  has  five  children;  Anna,  wife  of  Albert  Bodine,  of  Dudley 
township,  has  three  children;  Mary,  wife  of  Luther  Witham,  a farmer 
of  Hardin  county;  and  Mattie,  wife  of  William  Wolf,  a farmer  of 
Goshen  township. 

Samuel  Hile  received  a good  education  in  the  public  schools  and 
then  engaged  in  farming  on  his  father’s  farm.  He  taught  school  three 
terms.  He  then  settled  down  to  farming,  which  he  has  since  successfully 
carried  on.  In  the  spring  of  1905  he  located  on  the  parental  homestead 
of  sixty-two  acres,  located  in  a fine  farming  district  and  well  adapted  to 
the  raising  of  stock,  of  which  he  makes  a specialty.  He  is  an  enterpris- 
ing, wide-awake  farmer  who  makes  a study  of  modern  methods  and 
adopts  those  he  considers  the  best.  He  is  a man  of  strict  integrity  and 
unquestioned  honesty,  and  is  well  known  in  the  county.  He  is  a member 
of  the  United  Brethren  church,  of  which  he  is  a trustee.  He  is  an  ardent 
Democrat,  active  in  the  interests  of  his  party,  has  held  the  office  of  town- 
ship treasurer,  and  since  1900  has  been  a justice  of  the  peace. 

In  1903  Mr-.  Hile  married  Mary  Dorn,  who  was  born  March  15,  1867, 


504 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


daughter  of  Conrad  Dorn,  who  died  in  1880,  at  the  age  of  fifty-two  years, 
ten  months  and  three  days.  He  was  a native  of  Germany  and  came  to 
America  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  years,  settling  in  Kenton,  Ohio,  where 
he  worked  for  the  railroad  seven  years,  some  of  the  time  working  for 
thirty-five  cents  a day.  He  bought  a farm,  which  he  cleared,  built  a 
log  cabin  and  a double  log  barn  of  black  walnut.  One  building  of 
walnut  which  he  built  is  still  standing.  He  and  his  wife  came  from 
Germany  on  the  same  boat;  she  was  Catherine  Ault,  who  was  born 
December  12,  1829.  Mr.  Dorn  and  his  wife  worked  with  a team  of  oxen 
on  their  land,  she  driving  and  he  holding  the  plow.  She  died  February 
2,  1892.  Besides  Mrs.  Hile  they  had  children  as  follows:  Kate,  wife 
of  William  Evans;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  J.  Uhlisinger,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio; 
Cordelia,  wife  of  E.  Moses,  of  Kenton;  Nick,  a farmer;  William,  a stock 
farmer  living  near  Kenton ; and  George,  also  a farmer.  Mrs.  Hile 
had  been  married  before,  in  1887,  to  Joseph  M.  Dodds,  son  of  Thomas 
Dodds,  a Hardin  county  pioneer,  and  he  died  in  1892,  at  the  age  of 
forty-five  years ; to  this  marriage  was  born  one  son,  Earnest  Conrad 
Dodds,  twenty-one  years  of  age  and  living  at  the  old  home.  He 
married  Tena  Lutz.  One  child  has  been  born  of  Mrs.  Hile’s  second 
marriage,  D.  Walter  Hile. 

Andrew  Leverett  Shaw. — Among  the  men  who  have  helped  very 
materially  in  the  welfare  and  prosperity  of  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  are 
members  of  the  Shaw  family,  who  have  lived  in  the  county  more  than 
forty  years.  A worthy  representative  of  this  family  is  Andrew  Lever- 
ett Shaw,  who  has  now  retired  from  active  life  and  lives  on  his  fine  farm 
in  Dudley  township.  He  was  born  June  28,  1853,  in  Columbus,  Ohio, 
and  is  a son  of  Volney  Shaw,  a native  of  the  state  of  New  York,  who  was 
born  May  16,  1827.  Volney  Shaw  moved  to  Columbus,  Ohio,  in  1850, 
and  established  one  of  the  largest  hotels  of  the  city,  where  he  became 
fairly  successful,  but  during  the  war  he  met  with  serious  reverses  and  in 
1868  he  located  in  Larue,  Marion  county,  where  he  conducted  a small 
restaurant  and  a meat  market,  and  also  engaged  in  several  other  lines, 
being  an  enterprising,  energetic  man,  who  took  advantage  of  his  oppor- 
tunities. He  also  dealt  in  timber  and  bought  and  sold  stock.  He 
lived  in  Larue  some  two  years  and  then  removed  to  Dudley  township, 
where  with  his  son,  Andrew  L.,  he  took  a lien  of  timber  land,  which  they 
cleared.  At  the  expiration  of  his  lease  he  went  to  Findlay,  but  on  ac- 
count of  ill  health  returned  to  the  home  of  his  son,  where  the  remainder 
of  his  life  was  spent.  He  died  November  19,  1907.  Mr.  Shaw  was  an 
ardent  Democrat,  active  in  political  affairs,  and  served  in  several  local 
offices.  In  1851  he  married  Edith  E.  Park,  born  December  12,  1832, 
daughter  of  Warren  Park,  who  died  when  she  was  a child.  Mrs.  Shaw 
survives  her  husband,  having  now  reached  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years, 
and  lives  with  her  son. 

Andrew  L.  Shaw  attended  school  until  sixteen  years  of  age.  H$ 
worked  in  timber  five  years  after  leaving  school  and  then  took  up  a small 
farm  and  cut  timber  in  the  fall  and  winter  on  his  present  homestead, 
which  at  first  comprised  but  eighty-nine  acres.  However,  by  persistent 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


505 


effort  and  hard  work  he  improved  his  land  and  added  to  it  until  he  owned 
one  of  the  best  farms  and  most  modern  and  handsome  homes  in  the  coun- 
ty. He  and  Ira  Williams  are  the  two  oldest  and  probably  the  most  popu- 
lar farmers  in  Dudley  township,  and  all  respect  their  achievements  in  the 
way  of  attaining  success  by  their  own  efforts.  Five  years  after  locating 
on  his  small  farm,  Mr.  Shaw  bought  one  hundred  and  twelve  acres,  where 
he  carried  on  general  farming  and  later  added  more,  now  owning  two 
hundred  and  four  acres  of  excellent  farm  land.  He  carried  on  his 
farm  as  a business  proposition,  and  made  the  most  of  his  land,  making 
a specialty  of  raising  and  shipping  sheep,  cattle  and  other  stock.  He 
has  been  able  to  make  money  by  his  hard  work  and  also  knew  how  to 
invest  it  to  the  best  advantage,  and  has  always  been  interested  in  many 
enterprises  outside  his  farm.  The  first  house  on  his  land  was  a small 
farm  cabin,  and  in  1900  Mr.  Shaw  erected  a handsome  home,  one  of  the 
finest  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  county. 

Politically  Mr.  Shaw  is  an  ardent  Democrat,  and  does  yeoman  ser- 
vice for  his  party.  He  often  served  as  a delegate  to  conventions,  and 
has  held  many  local  offices;  he  is  now  a member  of  the  board  of  assessors. 
Fraternally  he  is  a member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
at  Mt.  Victory,  and  has  passed  through  the  chairs,  now  serving  as 
trustee  and  is  a member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  at  Mt.  Victory  and  of 
the  Elks  at  Kenton. 

On  the  22d  of  March,  1881.  Mr.  Shaw  married  Sarah  Rebecca  Craig, 
who  was  born  in  1857,  on  the  farm  adjoining  that  of  Mr.  Shaw,  a daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  Craig,  who  was  a native  of  Scotland.  They  settled  first 
in  Ashland  county,  but  later  removed  to  Dudley  township,  Hardin 
county,  locating  in  the  latter  place  in  1862.  He  died  in  1882,  and  his 
widow  died  in  1888.  Mrs.  Shaw  had  one  sister,  Elizabeth,  widow  of 
Cyrus  Wiggel.  She  also  had  one  brother,  Matthew  Craig,  who  lived 
on  a farm  adjoining  that  of  Mr.  Shaw.  Mrs.  Shaw  died  in  1889,  after 
having  suffered  great  pain  for  twelve  days  as  the  result  of  an  accident 
which  befell  her  while  she  was  making  soap  in  the  yard.  While  taking 
care  of  the  soap,  which  was  boiling  over  a fire  she  fell  in  a faint,  her 
clothes  taking  fire  so  that  she  was  very  badly  burned.  However,  she 
was  able  to  walk  to  the  house  afterward,  but  never  recovered  from  her 
fright  and  injuries.  She  was  a patient  sufferer,  and  in  her  many  trials 
displayed  a bravery  and  Christian  fortitude  that  were  wonderful.  She 
was  a most  devout  member  of  the  Methodist  church,  and  always  active 
in  church  work,  her  loss  being  mourned  by  the  members  of  the  church 
especially  and  by  the  community  as  a whole.  As  she  had  lived,  firm  in 
her  faith,  so  she  died,  being  fully  prepared  to  meet  this  peacefully  and 
bravely,  sustained  by  her  unfaltering  trust  in  the  future  which  awaited 
her  on  the  farther  shore.  She  passed  away,  surrounded  by  her  sorrow- 
ing family,  herself  the  calmest  of  them  all,  though  inexpressibly  saddened 
at  the  inevitable  parting.  She  had  been  a kind  and  loving  wife,  a good 
neighbor  and  true  friend,  and  had  done  her  duty  by  all.  and  her  life 
had  been  an  inspiration  to  many. 


506 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Samuel  Kumley,  a man  of  excellent  business  ability  and  tact, 
has  built  up  a profitable  trade  as  a merchant  in  Pfeiffer,  Hardin  county, 
where  he  is  numbered  among  the  leading  citizens  of  the  place.  A son 
of  Samuel  Kumley,  Sr.,  he  was  born  April  22,  1855,  near  Kenton,  Ohio, 
of  Swiss  ancestry. 

Samuel  Kumley,  Sr.,  was  born  and  educated  in  Switzerland, 
where  he  was  for  many  years  engaged  in  mercantile  persuits,  his  birth 
occurring  in  1819.  Emigrating  to  America  in  1845,  he  bought  a tract 
of  land  in  Hardin  county,  and  in  common  with  the  other  pioneers  of 
that  neighborhood  began  the  improvement  of  a farm.  He  met  with 
good  results  as  an  agriculturist,  and  from  that  time  until  his  death,  in 
1861,  was  actively  engaged  in  tilling  the  soil.  He  was  twice  married, 
his  first  wife,  Elizabeth  Kumley,  dying  in  early  womanhood,  in  Switzer- 
land. where  she  spent  her  entire  life,  leaving  two  children,  namely: 
Jacob,  engaged  in  farming  in  Wabash  county,  Indiana,  and  Elizabeth, 
widow  of  F.  Beck,  late  of  Hardin  county.  He  married  his  second  wife 
in  this  country,  Susanna  Strahn,  a daughter  of  J.  Strahn,  who  emigrated 
from  Switzerland  to  the  United  States,  coming  at  the  same  time  that  Mr. 
Kumley,  Sr.,  did,  and,  like  him,  locating  as  a farmer  in  Hardin  county, 
Ohio.  She  died  in  February,  1909,  aged  seventy-seven  years.  Three 
children  were  born  to  them,  namely:  John,  a farmer  in  Wabash  county, 
Indiana;  Mary,  wife  of  William  Strahn,  of  Kenton,  Ohio;  and  Samuel, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Leaving  school  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years,  Samuel  Kumley 
remained  with  his  parents  until  coming  of  age,  when  he  began  farming 
on  his  own  account,  renting  land  for  three  or  four  years.  Subsequently 
buying  land  in  Dunkirk,  he  carried  on  general  farming  for  three  years, 
after  which  he  lived  in  the  village  of  Dunkirk  for  a year.  Subsequently 
locating  in  Dudley  township,  Mr.  Kumley  rented  the  old  Rubin  farm, 
which  he  managed  successfully  until  selling  at  an  advantage  in  1887. 
Making  then  a decided  change  of  residence  and  occupation,  he  embarked 
in  mercantile  pursuits,  buying  his  present  store,  which  is  located  in 
Pfeiffer,  opposite  the  old  Wheeler  tavern,  on  the  Sandusky  road.  A 
man  of  honest  integrity,  upright  in  his  dealings,  Mr.  Kumley  has  gained 
the  confidence  of  the  people  with  whom  he  is  associated,  and  has  built  up 
up  an  extensive  and  lucrative  trade. 

In  1887  Mr.  Kumley  married  Elizabeth  Kanzig,  who  was  born  in 
1853  in  Ohio,  a daughter  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Banker)  Kanzig, 
neither  of  whom  are  now  living.  She  passed  to  the  life  beyond  July  9, 

1906,  leaving  one  child,  Edna  E.,  who  is  now,  in  1909,  attending  the 
Kenton  High  School.  Mr.  Kumley  married  for  his  second  wife,  in 

1907,  Elizabeth  Smith,  who  was  born  October  31,  1874,  a daughter  of  T. 
J.  Smith.  Her  father  was  born  seventy-one  years  ago,  and  is  now  living 
retired  from  active  pursuits,  having  as  a practical  and  prosperous  farmer 
accumulated  a competency.  He  married  Sarah  Finnerty,  who  died  in 
1888,  at  the  age  of  fifty-five  years,  and  of  their  union  four  children  were 
born,  namely:  Janice,  living  with  her  father;  Arvilla,  wife  of  C.  A. 
Stevenson,  who»  is  engaged  in  farming  near  Kenton ; May,  wife  of  J. 
Stair,  a farmer,  living  in  Washington  township;  and  Elizabeth,  now 
Mrs.  Kumley. 


• • 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


507 


Jacob  George  Casper. — Among  the  most  prominent  and  best-known 
farmers  of  Dudley  township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  is  Jacob  George 
Casper,  a native  of  the  township,  born  on  the  old  homestead  September 
16,  1864.  He  is  a son  of  John  F.  and  Elizabeth  (Sherman)  Casper. 
J.  F.  Casper  was  born  in  Berlin,  Germany,  in  1820,  and  came  to  America 
at  the  age  of  nineteen  years.  His  father,  John  Casper,  came  to  America 
some  years  later  and  lived  with  his  son  until  his  death,  at  the  age  of 
eigthy-one  years. 

John  F.  Casper  was  a brick  molder  by  trade  and  settled  first  at 
Columbus,  Ohio;  he  moved  to  Nashville,  Tennessee,  where  he  lived  some 
time  and  then  returned  to  Columbus,  and  bought  one  hundred  acres  of 
land  near  that  city.  Later  he  located  in  Dudley  township  Hardin 
county,  where  the  remainder  of  his  life  was  spent.  He  died  August 
28,  1907,  and  his  loss  was  widely  felt.  He  was  a member  of  the  Re- 
formed church  and  was  active  in  every  good  cause.  His  first  wife  was 
Mary  Cook,  and  to  this  union  three  children  were  born,  namely:  John 

A.,  of  Cessna  township;  Louisa,  wife  of  Jacob  Sherman,  of  Goshen  town- 
ship ; and  Mary,  wife  of  John  Sherman  of  Kenton,  Ohio.  Mrs.  Casper 
died.  Mr.  Casper  married  for  his  second  Avife  Elizabeth  Sherman,  aaJio 
was  born  in  Switzerland  and  came  to  America  with  her  parents  \Arhen 
five  years  of  age.  She  was  a daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  Sherman, 
and  is  still  living,  at  the  age  of  sixty -six  years.  To  Mr.  Casper’s  second 
marriage  the  folloAving  children  AA^ere  born : Mollie,  wife  of  William 

Pheiffer,  of  Goshen  township ; Callie,  AA'ife  of  Otto  Ries,  of  Goshen  tOAtm- 
ship ; Ella,  wife  of  Herman  Ries,  of  Dudley  tOAvnship ; Maggie,  Avife  of 
W.  Knapp,  of  Pleasant  township ; Tillie,  Avife  of  George  Wolf,  of  Pleas- 
ant township;  Laura,  at  home;  William,  of  California;  Paul,  of  Dudley 
township ; and  Jacob  George  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

After  reaching  the  age  of  fifteen  years  Jacob  G.  Casper  began 
working  for  his  father.  He  attended  the  country  schools  and  remained 
at  home  until  twenty-four  years  of  age.  He  then  began  carrying 
on  his  OAArn  farm  near  the  old  homestead,  AAdiere  he  built  a house.  Four 
years  later  he  removed  to  the  Holland  farm,  AAdiere  he  spent  six  years 
and  then  removed  to  his  present  home.  He  has  one  hundred  and  seven- 
ty-six acres  of  land,  having  purchased  one  hundred  and  eleven  acres  of 
the  old  Casper  homestead  in  1908.  He  carries  on  general  farming, 
paying  special  attention  to  stock-raising.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Reformed  church  and  is  also  a member  of  the  Hepburn  lodge  of  Knights 
of  Pythias.  Politically  he  is  a Democrat,  and  although  he  has  never 
cared  for  public  office  he  served  as  trustee  of  Goshen  township. 

On  February  7,  1889,  Mr.  Casper  married  Sophia  Margaret  Pheif- 
fer, aaJio  Avas  born  September  21.  1867,  in  Goshen  township,  daughter  of 
John  and  Margaret  (ITile)  Pheiffer.  John  Pheiffer  AAras  born  in  Pleas- 
ant township,  Hardin  county,  July  13,  1838,  anti  died  February  28, 
1905,  at  the  age  of  sixty  years.  He  Avas  the  son  of  Adam  and  Sophia 
(Elsessor)  Pheiffer,  Avho  came  from  Hessen,  Germany,  in  1837.  His 
widow,  \Arho  has  now  reached  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years,  lives  Avitli  Mrs. 
Casper.  She  was  born  December  26,  1840,  and  is  a daughter  of  Nicho- 
las and  Elizabeth  (Rasenmeyer)  Hile,  aa4io  came  from  Hessen,  Germany. 


508 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


In  1878  John  Pheiffer  moved  to  the  old  Wheeler  farm,  which  was  an 
old  landmark,  and  Pheiffer  Station  was  named  for  him.  He  lived  at 
this  historic  place  which  was  a tavern  at  one  time,  until  his  death.  He 
was  a farmer  and  also  for  several  years  conducted  a general  store,  being 
also  postmaster.  The  office  of  postmaster  was  held  by  some  member  of 
the  family  for  fourteen  years.  His  father  Adam  Pheiffer,  and  his 
wife  were  among  the  earliest  pioneers  of  Hardin  county.  John  Pheiffer 
was  a merchant  and  farmer  and  conducted  a general  store  for  five  years, 
after  which  he  operated  a threshing  machine  for  fifteen  years.  He  owns 
three  hundred  and  seventy  acres  of  land.  He  died  in  1879,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-six  years.  On  June  26,  1859,  he  married  Margaret  Ilile.  Be- 
sides Mrs.  Casper  he  and  his  wife  had  children  as  follows:  Elizabeth, 

wife  of  John  Ault,  of  Larue;  William,  of  Goshen  township;  Eva,  wife 
of  George  Banning,  of  Hepburn ; Anna,  wife  of  F.  Laubus  of  Dudley 
township;  Minnie,  wife  of  D.  Ward,  of  Pleasant  township;  Bessie,  Avife 
of  B.  Plume,  of  LaRue;  John  M.,  of  Forest;  Joseph,  pastor  of  the  Metho- 
dist church  of  Clinton,  Missouri;  and  Earl  C.,  living  with  Mr.  Casper. 

Mr.  Casper  and  his  Avife  have  three  children,  as  follows:  Ray  F., 
born  in  1890;  Irwin,  born  in  1898;  and  Frieda  Mabel,  born  in  1901;  all 
are  living  at  home.  Mr.  Casper  is  an  enterprising  and  public  spirited 
citizen  and  is  well  known  in  the  community.  He  is  well  liked  and  held 
in  high  esteem  by  his  fellows. 

George  Elsasser. — One  of  the  oldest  residents  of  Dudley  township 
Hardin  county,  Ohio,  is  George  Elsassar,  who  is  a retired  farmer  living 
on  his  homestead  in  that  township.  He  was  born  in  Kurhessen,  Ger- 
many, August  20,  1836.  His  father,  John  Elsasser,  Avho  Avas  born  in 
1816,  came  to  America  Avit.h  his  parents,  Ludwig  and  Elizabeth  (Bohm) 
Elsasser,  in  1850.  They  settled  in  Hardin  county,  Avhere  they  pur- 
chased seventy  acres  of  land,  which  they  cleared.  Ludwig  Elsasser  died 
tAvo  years  after  reaching  Hardin  county,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three 
years,  and  his  Avidow  survived  him  tAvo  years,  passing  away  at  the  age  of 
seventy-five  years.  John  Elsasser  continued  on  this  farm  until  his  death 
at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years.  He  Avas  married  in  Germany,  and 
his  wife,  who  was  a daughter  of  a Mr.  Bishop,  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy-three  years.  Mr.  Elsasser  Avas  a member  of  the  Lutheran 
church,  and  very  active  in  political  affairs,  being  a Republican.  He 
was  an  influential  citizen  and  highly  respected  in  the  community. 
George  has  two  brothers  living,  Henry  and  William,  the  latter  an 
employe  at  the  State  Infirmary. 

After  attending  school  three  months  in  Hardin  county,  George 
Elsasser  worked  on  the  farm  with  his  parents.  He  enlisted  in  April, 
1861,  in  Company  G,  Fourth  Ohio,  for  three  months,  and  then  at  the 
expiration  of  his  time  reenlisted  for  three  years.  He  Avas  discharged 
at  Camp  Keys,  Virginia,  on  account  of  disability.  He  served  first  in 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac  and  later  in  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland, 
participating  in  some  of  the  most  important  battles  of  the  war.  Re- 
turning home,  he  followed  farming  near  Kenton,  and  also  worked  forty 
years  with  a threshing  machine  in  connection  Avith  his  farming  opera- 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


509 


tions.  Later  he  moved  to  the  old  Smith  farm  in  Pleasant  township, 
also  engaged  in  operating  a sawmill  three  years  in  Paulding  county,  and 
managed  a mill  in  Kentucky  for  a time.  Later  he  removed  to  Hardin 
county  and  located  on  the  Scioto  river,  where  Pfeiffer  is  now  located. 
He  built  a sawmill  at  Pfeiffer  Station,  which  he  carried  on  twelve  years, 
and  in  1897  purchased  his  present  farm,  where  he  carries  on  general 
farming  and  makes  a specialty  of  stock  raising,  shipping  considerable 
each  year.  He  is  accounted  one  of  the  representative  farmers  of  the 
county,  where  the  family  is  well  known.  He  is  a member  of  the  German 
Lutheran  church.  He  is  a Republican  in  polities  and  has  held  several 
minor  township  offices.  He  is  industrious  and  thrifty,  and  has  well 
earned  the  rest  he  is  now  enjoying.  Hie  is  a public-spirited  and  useful 
citizen,  and  has  many  friends. 

In  1865  Mr.  Elsasser  married  Catherine  Glock,  a native  of  Germany, 
who  died  January  19,  1871,  at  the  age  of  thirty-two  years.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  Nicholas  Glock,  and  came  to  America  as  a girl  of  fourteen 
years,  being  employed  in  the  family  of  General  Robinson  until  her  mar- 
riage. The  children  born  to  this  union  were:  W.  M.,  deceased; 

Margaret  Bell,  wife  of  George  Darling,  of  Mechanicsburg ; and  John, 
who  was  born  July  18,  1871,  and  now  has  full  charge  of  his  father’s 
farm,  managing  his  entire  business,  and  has  operated  the  threshing 
machine  nineteen  years. 

Mr.  Elsasser  married  for  his  second  wife  Naomi  Brown,  who  was 
born  March  6,  1836,  a daughter  of  Amos  and  Susan  (Bonner)  Arharcl, 
the  former  a native  of  Virginia  and  the  latter  of  Germany.  She  came 
with  her  husband,  Joe  Brown,  from  Union  county  to  Hardin  county,  in 

1867,  and  there  her  husband  died.  She  is  the  mother  of  seven  children, 

two  daughters  and  five  sons,  namely:  Wallace,  Augustus,  Adolphus, 

David,  C.  B.,  Caroline  and  Susan.  Mrs.  Elsasser  is  a devout  member 
of  the  Christian  church. 

Zell  H.  Ballinger. — There  are  many  enterprising  young  farmers 
in  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  who  conduct  their  agricultural  operations  along 
scientific  lines,  and  reap  the  maximum  of  profit  from  their  land.  Among 
the  wide-awake  farmers  of  Dudley  township  is  Zell  II.  Ballinger,  who 
was  born  January  5,  1875,  son  of  Thomas  and  Anna  (Bishop)  Ballinger, 
the  former  a native  of  Perry  township,  Logan  county,  born  January  18, 
1846,  and  died  in  1888,  and  the  latter,  who  was  born  in  Zane  township, 
Logan  county,  March  14,  1845,  died  in  March,  1906. 

Henry  Ballinger,  father  of  Thomas,  married  Caroline  Moore. 
Thomas  Ballinger  was  married  in  1868  and  located  in  Hardin  county  the 
following  year,  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  his  son.  He  was  a promi- 
nent farmer  owning  one  hundred  and  fifteen  acres  of  good  land,  and 
became  a local  preacher  for  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  Avhose 
interest  he  was  an  active  worker.  He  was  a Whig  and  later  became  an 
ardent  Republican,  and  served  as  treasurer  of  the  township  and  for 
years  as  a member  of  the  school  board.  He  was  married  in  August, 

1868,  in  East  Liberty,  to  Anna  Bishop,  who  was  born  in  Logan  county 
March  14,  1845,  to  James  and  Eliza  (Inkeep)  Bishop,  both  natives  of 

Vol.  II— 5 


510 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Chillicothe.  Zell  has  one  brother  living,  Earl,  a farmer  of  Dudley 
township,  who  married  Maud  Fannen.  He  has  a brother  and  a sister 
deceased.  The  brother,  Charles  E.,  lived  to  the  age  of  thirty-four, 
dying  in  1900.  He  was  the  oldest  of  the  children,  and  was  born  and 
raised  on  the  old  homestead,  like  the  other  boys  he  became  a farmer. 
He  married  Lizzie  Kelsey,  of  Dudley  township,  a daughter  of  Newton 
and  Rachel  Kelsey.  They  had  one  son,  Lawrence,  who  is  with  his 
mother,  a resident  of  Dudley  township. 

Zell  II.  Ballinger  attended  school  until  fourteen  years  of  age,  re- 
ceiving a fair  education.  At  that  time  his  father  died,  and  in  company 
with  his  brother  he  carried  on  the  farm  for  his  mother  until  he  was 
twenty-five  years  of  age.  He  then  moved  to  a farm  of  His  own,  where  he 
remained  five  years,  then  rented  the  old  Heckerthorn  farm  three  years, 
after  which  he  came  to  the  homestead  where  he  now  resides,  he  and  his 
brother  having  purchased  the  estate.  They  carry  on  general  farming 
with  success,  and  are  accounted  among  the  leading  farmers  of  the 
county.  The  Ballinger  family  is  well  known  in  Hardin  county,  where 
they  have  been  prominent  for  many  years.  They  have  always  been 
public-spirited  citizens,  and  interested  in  the  welfare  of  the  community 
and  the  cause  of  progress. 

Mr.  Ballinger  is  a stanch  Republican  and  active  in  the  interests  of 
his  party,  having  taken  an  active  part  in  political  matters  since  attaining 
his  majority.  He  has  served  many  years  as  committee-man.  He  is  a 
prominent  Mason,  being  affiliated  with  the  chapter,  council  and  com- 
mandery,  as  well  as  the  Blue  Lodge  of  Kenton.  He  also  belongs  to  the 
Maccabees  of  Hepburn,  and  has  filled  all  the  chairs  in  the  lodge.  He 
and  his  wife  are  devout  and  earnest  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  of  Kenton. 

On  April  21,  1896,  Mr.  Ballinger  married  Minnie  Koch,  who  was 
born  November  19,  1872,  in  Dudley  township,  a daughter  of  Ludwig 
and  Elizabeth  (Blankner)  Koch,  the  former  a native  of  Germany.  Mr. 
Koch  died  in  1887,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years  and  six  months. 
Upon  coming  to  America  he  located  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  where  he  worked 
at  his  trade  of  tailor,  and  later  came  to  Dudley  township.  Still  later 
he  bought  a farm  near  Kenton,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
His  widow  is  living  at  Kenton,  and  is  now  seventy-one  years  of  age. 
Mrs.  Ballinger  has  six  sisters  and  two  brothers  living,  namely:  John,  a 
farmer  living  in  Michigan ; William,  a farmer  living  near  Kenton ; 
Lena,  who  married  George  Trapp,  a carpenter  living  at  Columbus,  Ohio ; 
Mary,  wife  of  John  Van  Fleet,  of  Kenton;  Anna,  wife  of  Henry  Bloom, 
of  Kenton ; Margaret,  wife  of  C.  Robey,  of  Kenton ; Ida,  wife  of  William 
Haggard,  of  Kenton;  and  Lilly,  wife  of  C.  Moore,  of  Kenton. 

Mr.  Ballinger  and  his  wife  have  children  as  follows : Gladys 

Wilhelmine,  born  May  27,  1897 ; Elwood  Thomas,  born  August  22,  1899 ; 
and  Arthur  Ludwig,  born  April  19,  1909. 

Joseph  V.  Kelly,  an  intelligent  and  progressive  farmer  of  Dudley 
township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  was  born  in  that  township  March  12, 
1844.  His  father,  Benjamin  Kelly,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  in 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


511 


1800,  came  with  his  family  to  Ohio  in  1835,  settling  first  in  Marion 
county ; later  he  came  to  Hardin  county,  where  he  cleared  eighty  acres 
of  land  and  erected  a log  cabin.  In  1847  he  erected  a small  frame 
house  of  black  walnut,  which  is  still  standing  on  the  old  homestead. 
He  lived  here  the  remainder  of  his  life,  and  passed  away  in  1865.  He 
was  a cooper  by  trade.  He  was  a member  of  the  United  Brethren 
church,  and  was  not  actively  interested  in  political  matters.  Benjamin 
Kelly  married  Martha  Snoddy,  who  died  in  1871,  at  the  age  of  seventy 
years.  Mr.  Kelly  and  his  wife  had  fifteen  children,  of  whom  Joseph 
was  the  youngest  son.  Besides  Joseph  three  others  are  living,  namely : 
Isabel,  wife  of  William  Davis,  a farmer  of  Dudley  township;  Lucinda, 
wife  of  Samuel  Smith;  and  Ellen,  widow  of  B.  Walters,  of  Columbus, 
Ohio. 

The  boyhood  of  Joseph  V.  Kelly  was  spent  on  a farm  and  he  received 
his  education  in  the  public  schools.  He  helped  his  father  with  the 
duties  of  the  farm  until  twenty-one  years  old,  then  began  farming  on 
his  own  account,  renting  land.  After  the  death  of  his  father  he  pur- 
chased the  shares  of  the  other  heirs  to  the  old  homestead,  and  his  mother 
remained  with  him.  In  1891  he  erected  a modern  home,  one  of  the 
finest  residences  in  the  section.  He  has  one  hundred  and  forty  acres 
of  good  fertile  land,  where  he  has  for  many  years  carried  on  farming  and 
stock  raising.  Mr.  Kelly  has  retired  from  active  work  and  his  son  has 
the  principal  management  of  his  farm. 

Politically  Mr.  Kelly  is  a Republican,  and  active  in  the  interests  of 
his  party,  although  he  has  never  desired  to  hold  public  office  himself. 
He  is  a member  of  the  United  Brethren  church  and  has  served  many 
years  as  trustee  of  the  same.  Mr.  Kelly  has  for  many  years  been 
extensively  interested  in  cattle,  breeding  and  shipping  Hereford  stock. 

In  1870  Mr.  Kelly  married  Mary  C.  Lingo,  born  October  29,  1846, 
daughter  of  James  H.  and  Emma  (Kepper)  Lingo,  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  three  children,  two  who  died  in  infancy,  and  James  Claude, 
born  in  1874.  James  C.  Kelly  has  spent  his  life  on  a farm  and  is  well 
fitted  to  manage  one  to  the  best  advantage.  He  married  Daisy  Cramer, 
born  November  12,  1878,  daughter  of  John  and  Emma  (Willison) 
Cramer;  Mr.  Cramer  was  a farmer  of  Hancock  county,  Ohio,  and  died 
December  27,  1902,  at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years;  his  wife  is  living,  at 
the  age  of  fifty-nine  years,  in  Dudley  township.  She  is  a daughter  of 
George  Willison  and  Elizabeth  Hazelett.  The  father  of  John  Cramer, 
Charles  Cramer,  was  born  in  1853,  in  Germany,  on  a steamer  which  was 
navigating  on  the  Rhine.  After  migrating  to  America  he  settled  in 
Columbus,  Ohio,  where  he  followed  his  trade  of  shoemaker.  He  was 
married  at  Arlington,  in  1836,  to  Catherine  Price,  and  died  in  1866. 
His  son  John  was  born  March  27,  1840,  in  Hancock  county.  John 
Cramer  was  a soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  having  enlisted  in  Company  A, 
One  Hundred  and  Thirty-third  Ohio  Infantry.  He  was  reported  dead 
but  was  later  found  by  his  father  and  brought  home.  James  C.  Kelly 
and  his  wife  became  the  parents  of  children  as  follows : Lenard  Ray, 

born  August  27,  1899;  John  Merrill,  born  February  12,  1901:  Laura 
Dill,  born  January  16,  1903;  Emma  Catherine,  born  April  28,  1905; 
and  Joseph,  who  died  in  infancy. 


512 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


The  wife  of  Joseph  V.  Kelly  died  August  24,  1909,  and  her  death 
was  mourned  by  the  entire  community.  She  was  for  many  years  an 
earnest,  devout  member  of  the  United  Brethren  church,  and  active  in 
the  Ladies’  Aid  Society,  as  well  as  all  other  work  connected  with  the 
church.  Her  lovely  disposition  and  high  character  made  her  greatly 
beloved,  and  her  presence  will  be  greatly  missed  in  many  circles.  After 
leaving  school  she  remained  at  home  until  her  marriage.  Mrs.  Kelly 
was  a kind  neighbor,  always  ready  to  give  aid  and  counsel  to  the  sick 
and  distressed,  as  well  as  to  lend  a helping  hand  to  anyone  who  called 
npon  her.  She  was  a kind,  indulgent  mother,  a faithful,  loving  wife, 
and  her  sorrowing  family  have  the  sympathy  of  all  who  know  them.  She 
was  the  fourth  child  of  her  parents,  and  is  survived  by  four  brothers 
and  one  sister. 

Ira  Williams. — Many  farmers  of  Hardin  county  have  worked 
hard  for  many  years  to  keep  their  land  in  good  condition  and  acquire 
a competence,  and  have  then  retired  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  their  labors. 
Among  the  successful  men  of  Dudley  township,  now  retired  from  active 
life,  is  Ira  Williams,  who  was  born  in  Genesee  county,  New  York,  Nov- 
ember 17,  1831,  a son  of  Frederick  Williams.  The  latter  was  born  in 
Warren,  Connecticut,  February  10,  1806,  and  was  a son  of  Thorp  and 
Clarissa  (Peters)  Williams,  the  former  of  whom  died  in  1867,  at  the  age 
of  eighty-seven.  Frederick  Williams  settled  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, in  1836,  and  in  1838  removed  to  Springboro,  Pennsylvania, 
engaging  in  mercantile  business,  which  he  sold  in  1840,  and  followed 
farming  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  an  enterprising,  successful 
man,  and  fraternally  was  a member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows.  He  married  Abbie  Jenks,  who  was  born  in  NewYork  and  died 
in  April,  1882,  aged  seventy-  one  years.  Of  the  children  of  Frederick 
Williams  and  his  wife,  Ira  is  the  only  one  surviving. 

The  education  of  Ira  Williams  was  obtained  in  Ohio,  and  at  the 
age  of  twenty-one  years  he  graduated  from  the  common  schools  of  Jef- 
ferson, Ohio.  After  his  marriage  he  began  work  for  the  Lake  Shore 
Railroad  Company,  at  Conneaut,  Ohio,  in  constructing  bridges,  and  a 
year  later  removed  to  Clark  county,  where  he  worked  at  surveying  the 
road  from  Springfield  to  Delaware,  and  later  from  Springfield  to  Co- 
lumbus. In  1855  he  removed  to  Logan  county,  where  he  bought  a farm, 
and  a year  later  located  in  Hardin  county,  on  his  present  farm,  purchas- 
ing seven  hundred  and  fifty  acres.  He  has  greatly  improved  his  farm, 
and  now  has  one  of  the  most  modern  and  convenient  farm  houses  in 
his  section  of  the  county.  Some  six  years  ago  he  divided  his  land 
among  his  children.  He  has  now  retired  from  active  life  and  his 
present  farm  is  managed  by  renters.  He  was  the  largest  land  owner 
and  most  extensive  farmer  and  stockman  of  Dudley  township,  where 
he  is  widely  known  and  highly  esteemed. 

Mr.  Williams  married  for  his  first  wife,  Hanna  Louisa  Greene, 
born  May  14,  1834,  in  Springboro,  Pennsylvania,  daughter  of  Josiah 
Greene.  The  father  was  born  April  16,  1802,  in  Wethersfield,  New  York, 


* 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


513 


dying  August  17,  1838,  and  the  mother  born  April  21,  1804,  died  Dec- 
ember 7,  1866.  They  had  ten  children,  Mrs.  Williams  being  the  eighth 
child.  She  died  October  17,  1871,  leaving  children  as  follows:  Ethan, 
a manufacturer  of  Kenton,  Ohio,  married  L.  Barnett,  and  they  have 
one  child ; Homer,  deceased,  who  left  two  children : Emery,  who  married 
Eva  Yost,  and  Edna,  wife  of  D.  Baker,  who  has  one  child;  Abbie,  wife 
of  William  Hampton,  and  has  two  children:  Stella,  wife  of  William 
Wentz,  has  one  child,  and  Urilla,  who  married  A1  Roberts,  of  Greenup, 
Illinois,  and  they  have  three  children ; Hattie  who  married  J.  Pickett,  a 
carpenter  of  California,  and  they  have  one  child,  Frederick ; Ira,  of 
Marion,  Ohio,  married  Ella  Bridget,  and  they  have  two  children ; Ella 
married  William  Hampton,  of  Dudley  township,  and  they  have  four 
children;  James  married  Bell  Leadman,  and  they  have  one  child; 
Frederick,  who,  at  the  age  of  thirteen,  was  accidentally  killed  by  a gun 
shot  from  a neighbor’s  boy. 

Mr.  Williams  married  for  his  second  wife  Susan  Smith,  who  was 
born  August  27,  1848,  a native  of  Hardin  county,  and  a daughter  of 
John  and  Elizabeth  (McNeil)  Smith,  the  former  a pioneer  settler  of 
Pleasant  township,  Hardin  county,  who  came  from  Pennsylvania  and 
was  a cooper  and  shoemaker  by  trade.  Elizabeth  McNeil  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  March  23,  1810.  John  Smith  and  his  wife  have  two  sons 
living:  Samuel  M.  and  Benjamin  F.,  both  farmers  in  Hardin  county; 
they  also  have  four  daughters  besides  Mrs.  Williams.  They  were 
parents  of  fifteen  children.  John  Smith  died  in  1863  at  the  age  of 
fifty-five  years,  and  his  widow  survived  him  until  1892,  passing  away  at 
the  age  of  eighty-three.  He  came  to  Hardin  county  with  horses  and  a 
wagon,  with  no  money,  and  took  up  land,  by  hard  work  and  great 
economy  being  able  to  attain  more  than  ordinary  success.  He  left 
seven  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land.  He  was  a man  of  untiring  energy, 
and  had  a good  helpmeet  in  his  wife,  who  was  also  a good  manager  and 
able  to  meet  bravely  the  rigors  and  hardships  of  pioneer  existence.  Mrs. 
Williams  was’ the  next  youngest  in  the  family  of  seven  daughters  and 
eight  sons.  Mrs.  Smith’s  mother,  Anna  Eustis  McNeil,  when  seven 
years  of  age  was  captured  by  the  Indians,  and  held  until  fourteen  years 
of  age,  when  she  was  regained  by  her  parents.  By  his  second  marriage 
Mr.  Williams  had  one  child,  Guy,  born  December  17,  1892,  a graduate 
of  Larue  and  Ada  Universities.  Mr.  Williams  also  adopted  one  child 
when  four  years  of  age,  Maude  L.  Fannon,  now  the  wife  of  Earl  Bal- 
linger, and  they  have  one  child,  Waldo. 

Mr.  Williams  has  always  done  his  full  duty  as  a citizen  and 
patriot,  and  not  only  has  made  a good  record  in  private  life,  but  heard 
the  call  of  his  country  in  her  hour  of  need.  He  enlisted  on  May  2, 
1864,  in  Company  I,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-fifth  Ohio,  for  one 
hundred  days’  service,  which  he  spent  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley  and 
at  Harper’s  Ferry.  He  entered  as  first  lieutenant  and  was  commis- 
sioned as  captain ; he  was  discharged  at  Camp  Chase.  He  is  a member 
of  Owen  Gray  Post  274,  G.  A.  R.,  of  La  Rue. 

Politically  Mr.  Williams  is  a Republican,  and  he  has  been  honore.' 
by  his  fellow-citizens  by  election  to  several  township  offices,  in  which  he 


514 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


has  served  creditably.  TIis  integrity,  honesty  and  high  character  are 
well  appreciated  by  his  friends  and  neighbors,  and  in  all  his  dealings 
with  his  fellows  he  has  shown  himself  to  be  prompted  by  highest  princi- 
ples of  honor.  He  is  one  of  the  most  popular  men  in  the  county,  and 
his  opinions  are  considered  with  great  respect.  He  does  not  believe  in 
God,  the  Bible  or  a Hereafter  and  states  his  reasons  with  great  convic- 
tion and  earnestness.  He  is  a deep  student  and  a well-known  writer, 
whose  pen  has  furnished  articles  for  the  press  for  a number  of  years. 
Although  in  the  matter  of  religion  most  of  his  neighbors  do  not  agree 
with  him,  yet  all  respect  his  earnestness  and  full  belief  in  his  doctrines, 
in  which  he  generally  follows  the  noted  Bob  -Ingersoll,  of  whom  he  is  a 
firm  admirer. 

Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Miller. — Many  fine  farms  of  Ohio  are  owned  by 
women,  whose  husbands  or  fathers  have  spent  their  lives  in  accumulating 
land  and  other  possessions,  which  at  their  death  are  left  with  the  dear 
ones  who  have  helped  so  much  in  the  acquisition  of  them.  Among  the 
highly  esteemed  women  of  Dudley  township  is  Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Miller, 
widow  of  the  late  Andy  Miller,  of  that  township.  Andy  Miller  was  born 
in  Baden,  Germany,  August  15,  1827,  son  of  Michael  Miller,  who  died 
when  Andy  was  six  weeks  old.  Mr.  Miller  received  his  education  in 
his  native  country,  where  he  lived  until  lie  reached  the  age  of  twenty- 
four  years,  and  early  learned  to  look  out  for  his  own  interests.  Upon 
emigrating  to  the  United  States  he  located  in  Columbus,  Ohio,  where  he 
spent  one  year  and  then  removed  to  Mt.  Victory,  where  he  was  employed 
in  a sawmill  until  his  marriage,  in  1858.  He  then  bought  the  present 
homestead  of  the  family,  of  seventy  acres,  which  he  himself  cleared, 
and  they  were  the  first  settlers  in  the  section.  He  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  life  improving  and  cultivating  his  farm,  which  amply  repaid  his 
labor,  and  being  thrifty  and  industrious  he  achieved  no  small  degree 
of  success.  He  died  on  August  2,  1904,  deeply  lamented  by  a large 
circle  of  friends.  He  was  a public-spirited  and  useful  citizen,  and 
politically  was  a Republican,  although  he  never  cared  for  public  office. 
He  was  a member  of  the  Catholic  church.  Mr.  Miller  was  a man  of 
strict  integrity  and  honesty,  and  in  his  dealings  with  his  fellow-men 
displayed  high  character  and  purpose,  and  had  a reputation  for  stead- 
fastly keeping  his  word. 

Mr.  Miller  married  Mary  Ann  Thurman,  born  August  25,  1834, 
daughter  of  George  W.  Thurman,  who  died  in  1867,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
one  years.  Mr.  Thurman  came  with  his  parents,  George  and  Mary 
Thurman,  from  Virginia  to  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  and  about  1834  they 
settled  in  Dudley  township,  Hardin  county,  where  they  took  up  land, 
which  they  cleared  and  improved.  They  took  their  grain  on  horseback 
to  the  mill  at  East  Liberty.  Mr.  Thurman  married  Margaret  Carr, 
who  died  in  1879,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years.  Mrs.  Miller  has 
one  brother  and  two  sisters  living,  namely:  Zachariah,  a farmer  of 
Hardin  county ; Rebecca,  living  with  her  brother ; and  Matilda,  a widow 
living  in  Kenton.  Ohio.  When  Mr.  Miller  and  his  wife  first  lived  in 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


515 


Hardin  county  they  were  night  after  night  troubled  by  wolves.  Mrs. 
Miller  is  a member  of  the  Christian  church. 

The  children  born  to  Mr.  Miller  and  his  wife  were  as  follows:  Joel 
C-,  deceased,  who  left  one  daughter,  Ivy,  who  married  Will  Wess,  of 
Kenton;  George  Worthington,  of  Mt.  Victory,  who  married  Dose 
Marshall,  and  they  have  one  child,  Glen ; Margaret  Ann,  who  died  in 
infancy;  Mathilda,  wife  of  Jacob  Weatherhalt,  of  Kenton,  their  union 
being  without  issue ; Peter,  at  home,  and  who  has  one  child,  Opal ; and 
Andy,  who  died  in  infancy. 

Mrs.  Miller  and  her  son  Peter  attend  to  the  farm,  carrying  on 
general  farming.  Peter  Miller  has  also  been  considerably  interested  in 
contracting  and  stock  raising.  He  was  reared  on  a farm  and  fully 
understands  the  details  of  the  work,  being  able  to  make  the  most  of  the 
land.  H)e  is  enterprising  and  industrious,  and  the  results  of  his  labor 
are  gratifying. 

Andy  Miller  served  five  years  in  the  German  army  before  coming  to 
the  United  States,  and  during  the  Civil  war  here  he  enlisted  in  Company 
I,  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-ninth  Ohio,  for  one  year,  serving  his  full 
time  and  being  mustered  out  in  1865.  After  his  return  to  his  farm  he 
was  sick  two  years  as  a consequence  of  the  devotion  he  had  shown  for 
his  adopted  country. 

William  H.  Powell  is  one  of  the  representative  young  agricul- 
turists of  Liberty  township  and  a member  of  one  of  the  oldest  families 
of  Hardin  county,  a son  of  Joseph  and  Olive  E.  (Henry)  Powell,  both 
born  in  this  county,  the  former  in  1850  and  the  latter  in  1854.  Both 
were  born  in  Marion  township,  and  they  yet  reside  there  on  a farm  of 
eighty-seven  acres.  He  is  a grandson  on  the  paternal  side  of  William 
Powell,  who  came  from  his  native  England  to  this  country  at  an  early 
age,  and  he  married  here  Nancy  Lyons,  of  German  extraction,  they 
becoming  the  parents  of  Joseph,  Sarah,  George,  Elizabeth,  John  and 
James.  William  Powell  died  in  the  year  of  1859.  On  the  maternal 
side  Mr.  Powell  is  a grandson  of  David  and  Jane  (Donaldson)  Henry, 
the  former  also  from  England.  Five  children  were  born  to  Joseph 
and  Olive  (Henry)  Powell:  Harlan  J.,  now  deceased;  William  H. ; 0. 

C. ; Stella  M. ; and  Verna  F.  Stella  is  the  wife  of  C.  L.  Mathews. 
Joseph  Powell  has  been  prominently  identified  with  the  history  of 
Hardin  county  from  its  earliest  epoch. 

William  H.  Powell,  his  son,  was  born  in  Marion  township  of  Hardin 
county  September  15,  1875,  and  the  training  which  he  received  in  its 
district  schools  was  supplemented  by  a course  at  the  Ohio  Northern 
University  at  Ada,  and  afterward  he  taught  school  during  five  terms. 
He  is  now  one  of  the  rising  young  agriculturists  of  Liberty  township, 
owning  a farm  of  one  hundred  acres  here  of  splendidly  improved  land. 
He  is  progressive  in  his  methods,  using  only  the  latest  improved 
machinery,  and  in  1909  he  built  a valuable  and  commodious  barn,  sixty- 
two  by  seventy-two  feet,  two  stories  high.  He  has  owned  this  estate 
since  1901,  and  since  that  time  has  improved  it  in  a splendid  manner. 
He  is  also  prominently  identified  with  stock  raising  interests,  making 


516 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


a specialty  of  the  breeding  of  Rambouillet  sheep,  Poland  China  hogs  and 
Barred  Plymouth  Rock  chickens. 

On  the  10th  of  February,  1897,  lie  was  married  to  Miss  Eva  J.,  a 
daughter  of  Charles  A.  and  Manila  A.  Guilder,  of  Dola,  Hardin  county, 
where  Mrs.  Powell  was  born  June  11,  1874.  Mr.  Powell  is  a member 
and  also  the  secretary  of  the  order  of  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  and  he  is 
a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

William  Perry  Dempster,  who  is  more  familiarly  known  by  his 
second  name,  is  one  of  the  enterprising  and  successful  representatives 
of  the  agricultural  industry  in  Hardin  county,  being  the  owner  of  a 
well  improved  farm  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-three  acres  in  Marion 
township,  and  being  a citizen  to  whom  is  accorded  unqualified  confidence 
and  esteem  in  the  community  that  has  been  his  home  during  practically 
his  entire  life. 

Mr.  Dempster  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  adjoining  his  present 
farm  in  Marion  township  on  the  24th  of  February,  1852,  and  is  a son  of 
the  late  John  W.  Dempster,  who  was  born  in  Jefferson  county,  this  state, 
a scion  of  one  of  the  sterling  pioneer  families  of  Ohio,  honored  by  all 
with  whom  he  came  in  contact  and  known  as  a prosperous  farmer  and 
worthy  citizen.  He  moved  to  Hardin  county  in  1847,  where  he  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  W.  Perry  Dempster,  the  immediate  subject 
of  this  sketch,  was  reared  to  the  sturdy  discipline  of  the  home  farm,  to 
whose  work  he  early  began  to  contribute  his  quota,  the  while  he  was 
afforded  the  advantages  of  the  district  schools,  which  he  continued  to 
attend  during  the  winter  terms  until  he  was  about  twenty  years  of  age, 
after  which  he  continued  his  studies  of  higher  academic  order  in  the 
Ohio  Northern  University,  at  Ada.  That  he  made  good  use  of  his 
educational  advantages  is  assured  with  much  of  emphasis  when  it  is 
stated  that  for  more  than  twenty  years  he  devoted  his  attention  a por- 
tion of  each  year  to  the  pedagogic  profession,  having  been  an  able  and 
popular  teacher  in  the  public  schools  of  Hardin,  Allen  and  Hancock 
counties. 

Mr.  Dempster  has  owned  and  resided  upon  his  present  farm  since 
1881,  and  his  management  of  the  same  has  been  most  effective,  as  is 
shown  in  the  evident  thrift  and  prosperity  manifest  on  every  hand. 
The  buildings  and  other  permanent  improvements  are  of  excellent  order, 
and  the  place  is  devoted  to  diversified  agriculture  and  to  the  raising  of 
high-grade  live  stock,  through  the  medium  of  which  Mr.  Dempster  has 
gained  definite  success,  being  known  as  one  of  the  substantial  citizens 
of  his  native  county  and  being  a stockholder  and  director  of  the  Alger 
Savings  Bank. 

Mr.  Dempster  is  a man  of  broad  mental  ken  and  strong  individual- 
ity, and  this  fact,  coupled  with  his  acknowledged  integrity  in  all  the 
relations  of  life,  has  made  him  a factor  of  influence  in  local  affairs  of  a 
public  nature.  In  polities  he  accords  an  unswerving  allegiance  to  the 
Republican  party,  and  he  has  served  several  terms  as  clerk  of  Marion 
township,  besides  which  he  has  been  an  earnest  and  valued  member  of 
the  school  board  of  his  district,  serving  as  its  clerk  for  several  terms  and 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


517 


doing  all  in  his  power  to  bring  the  local  schools  up  to  the  highest  possible 
standard.  He  and  his  wife  are  zealous  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  at  Maysville,  in  which  he  is  a trustee,  besides  being 
active  in  the  work  of  its  Sunday  school. 

On  the  13th  of  April.  1877,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Dempster  to  Miss  Sarah  Cummings,  with  whom  he  became  acquainted 
while  both  were  attending  school  at  Ada.  It  is  worthy  of  record  that 
many  years  previously  their  fathers  had  been  neighbors  and  stanch 
friends  in  Harrison  county.  Mrs.  Dempster  was  born  in  Harrison 
county  on  the  23d  of  March,  1850,  and  is  a daughter  of  the  late  Philip 
Cummings,  a representative  farmer  of  that  county.  She  was  afforded 
excellent  educational  advantages,  including  a course  in  Granville  Semi- 
nary and  the  Ohio  Northern  University  at  Ada,  Ohio,  and  had  been  a 
successful  teacher  prior  to  her  marriage.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dempster 
became  the  parents  of  three  daughters,  of  whom  two  are  living.  Mary 
Florenda,  who  was  born  June  19,  1882,  has  been  a popular  teacher  in 
the  public  schools  for  seven  years,  having  completed  her  education  by  a 
course  in  the  Ohio  Northern  University  at  Ada.  Edna  Pauline,  who 
was  born  on  the  4th  of  September,  1886,  died  on  the  3d  of  the  following 
month.  Lucy  Leone,  who  was  born  on  the  19th  of  November,  1890,  was 
graduated  in  the  high  school  at  Harrocl  and  is  now  a student  in  the 
conservatory  of  music  at  Ada,  this  county.  Russell  Herbert,  who  was 
born  July  3,  1892,  is  now  a student  in  the  Harrod  high  school. 

George  F.  Krummrey,  who  owns  and  operates  a seed  farm  in 
Marion  township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  was  born  at  Berea,  this  state, 
February  6,  1863,  of  German  parentage.  His  parents,  Gottleb  and 
Mary  (Voltgast)  Krummrey,  came  from  Germany  in  early  life  and 
settled  in  Ohio,  where  they  were  married  and  passed  the  rest  of  their 
years.  He  died  in  1887 ; she,  October  7,  1909.  They  had  twelve 
children,  among  whom  were  one  pair  of  twins,  and  of  this  number  those 
living  are  as  follows : Mary,  Anna,  Ida,  Minnie,  Fred,  John,  and 

George  F. 

George. F.  Krummrey  was  reared  on  a farm  and  received  his  edu- 
cation in  a German  school.  In  the  spring  of  1896  he  came  to  Hardin 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  farming,  having  one 
hundred  acres  of  land  and  making  a specialty  of  raising  onions  and 
onion  seed. 

Mr.  Krummrey  married  Miss  Rosa  Brillinger,  a native  of  Ohio, 
and  they  are  the  parents  of  three  sons : Alfred,  born  October  23,  1895 ; 
Carl,  January  15,  1897 ; and  Ernest.  November  5,  1901.  Politically 
Mr.  Krummrey  is  a Republican,  and  at  different  times  has  been  honored 
with  local  office.  For  eight  years  he  has  tilled  the  office  of  trustee  of 
Marion  township.  He  is  a member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen,  and  both 
he  and  his  wife  are  identified  with  the  Presbyterian  church. 

James  Goslee,  one  of  the  most  extensive  farmers  of  Hardin  county, 
owns  a large  farm  in  Marion  township,  and  is  also  a stockholder  and 
director  of  the  Alger  Savings  Bank.  Mr.  Goslee  has  practically  re- 


518 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


tired  from  active  life,  but  has  full  charge  of  the  work  done  on  his  farm 
and  is  an  excellent  manager.  He  carries  on  general  farming,  and  raises 
considerable  stock.  He  was  born  in  Champaign  county,  Ohio,  January 
22,  1843,  and  is  a son  of  John  and  Mary  A.  (Kenton)  Goslee.  John 
Goslee  was  a son  of  Job  Goslee,  who  came  to  Ohio  from  Maryland,  set- 
tling in  Champaign  county,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
John  Goslee  was  reared  in  Champaign  county  and  lived  there  until 
after  his  marriage.  His  wife,  Mary  Kenton  was  reared  on  Mad  river, 
Near  Urbana,  Ohio,  and  came  with  her  husband  to  Hardin  county  in 
the  spring  of  1843.  They  settled  on  the  borders  of  Scioto  Marsh,  in 
Roundhead  township,  and  here  Mr.  Goslee  became  a large  farmer  and 
stock-raiser.  He  became  very  prosperous  and  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  days  on  this  farm.  He  was  an  active  worker  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  and  a class  leader.  John  Goslee  had  twelve  children 
by  his  two  marriages.  Among  those  by  the  first  marriage  were : James, 
Job,  Elizabeth,  Mary  A.,  Melissa  and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 

When  the  Goslee  family  located  in  Hardin  county  James  was  only 
a few  months  old.  He  was  reared  in  the  county,  and  like  most  other 
boys  of  the  locality  attended  school  winters  and  assisted  with  the  work 
of  the  farm  during  the  summer  months.  He  remained  at  home  until 
he  reached  his  majority.  Mr.  Goslee  enlisted  in  Company  E.'One  Hun- 
dred Eightieth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  in  August,  1864,  being  then 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  served  under  General  Schofield.  Hjs 
regiment  operated  in  Tennessee  and  North  Carolina,  and  Mr.  Goslee 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  when  he  was  mustered  out.  He  par- 
ticipated in  many  battles  and  skirmishes,  and  among  these  was  the  battle 
of  Wises  Fork.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned  to  Hardin  county 
and  later  went  west,  though  he  again  returned  to  the  county  and  engaged 
in  farming. 

In  1870  Mr.  Goslee  married  Asenath  J.  Slaybaugh,  born  in  Bu- 
cyrus,  Crawford  county,  Ohio,  December  21,  1845,  daughter  of  Samuel 
and  Catherine  Slaybaugh.  She  came  with  her  parents  to  Hardin 
county  in  1860,  and  they  settled  in  Roundhead  township.  Mr.  Goslee 
and  his  wife  became  the  parents  of  one  daughter,  now  deceased.  How- 
ever, they  have  reared  two  children,  namely:  May  Scott  and  Ruth  Moore. 
They  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Pleasant  Hill, 
where  Mr.  Goslee  is  one  of  the  stewards  and  trustees.  Politically 
he  is  a Democrat,  although  he  does  not  care  to  hold  public  office.  How- 
ever, he  is  actively  interested  in  the  public  welfare  and  forwards  every 
good  cause  that  comes  within  his  knowledge.  He  owns  four  hundred 
and  twenty-five  acres  of  fine  farming  land  in  Marion  and  Roundhead 
townships,  and  has  been  very  successful  in  his  undertakings.  He  has 
a large  circle  of  friends  and  is  considered  one  of  the  representative, 
useful  citizens  of  the  county. 

Howard  E.  Thompson. — It  is  gratifying  to  note  those  instances 
where  native  sons  of  Hardin  county  have  been  able  here  to  find  ampm 
opportunity  and  scope  for  effective  activity  in  connections  with  practi- 
cal industrial  and  business  enterprises,  and  one  of  this  number  who  is 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


519 


well  entitled  to  consideration  in  this  publication  is  Howard  E.  Thomp- 
son, who  is  one  of  the  successful  and  progressive  farmers  and  stock- 
growers  of  the  county  and  who  owns  and  resides  upon  the  fine  old  home- 
stead farm  in  Marion  township,  which  was  the  place  of  his  nativity. 
He  was  born  on  this  farm  on  the  23d  of  March,  1861,  and  is  a son  of 
Henry  F.  and  Catherine  J.  (McGinnis)  Thompson,  the  former  of  whom 
was  born  in  the  city  of  Baltimore,  Maryland,  and  the  latter  in  Ross 
county,  Ohio,  where  her  parents  settled  in  the  pioneer  days.  The  mar- 
riage of  Henry  F.  Thompson  and  Catherine  J.  McGinnis  was  solemnized 
in  Kenton,  Hardin  county,  on  the  31st  of  July,  1851,  and  they  estab- 
lished their  home  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  their  son  Howard  E.,  whose 
name  initiates  this  review.  The  father  reclaimed  the  farm  from  the 
virgin  forest  and  developed  the  same  into  one  of  the  valuable  properties 
of  this  favored  section  of  the  state.  He  became  one  of  the  honored  and 
influential  citizens  of  Marion  township,  taking  an  active  part  in  the 
civic  and  material  development  and  upbuilding  of  his  section  of  the 
county  and  ever  holding  the  implicit  confidence  and  esteem  of  his 
fellow  men.  He  was  one  of  the  sterling  pioneer  citizens  of  Hardin 
county,  whither  he  came  with  his  parents  in  the  year  1833,  and  the 
McGinnis  family  located  in  this  county  in  1814,  so  that  the  subject  of 
this  review  is  a scion  of  pioneer  stock  in  both  paternal  and  maternal 
lines.  Henry  F.  Thompson  was  a Republican  in  his  political  proclivi- 
ties and  his  religious  faith  was  that  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
of  which  his  widow  has  long  been  a devoted  member  also.  He  was 
summoned  to  the  life  eternal  on  the  18tli  of  August,  1903,  and  his  widow 
still  resides  on  the  old  homestead,  which  is  endeared  to  her  by  the  hal- 
lowed memories  and  associations  of  the  past.  Of  their  eleven  children 
only  three  are  living,  Howard  E.  being  the  youngest  of  the  number ; Dr. 
Frank  B.  Thompson  is  a ' representative  physician  and  surgeon  of  La- 
fayette, Indiana;  and  Emma  is  the  wife  of  James  Conner,  of  Alger, 
Hardin  county,  Ohio.  The  honored  father  was  seventy-nine  years  of 
age  at  the  time  of  his  detath,  The  mother  was  born  in  Ross  county, 
this  state,  on  the  26th  of  February,  1829,  and  is  thus  more  than  eighty 
years  of  age  at  the  time  of  this  writing,  in  1910,  being  well  preserved 
in  both  physical  and  mental  faculties.  Her  father  was  a cabinet  maker 
by  trade  but  was  engaged  in  farming  in  Ross  county  at  the  time  of  her 
birth.  When  she  was  a girl  the  family  moved  to  a small  pioneer  vil- 
lage in  Ross  county,  and  there  she  attended  school  until  the  removal  of 
the  family  to  Hardin  county,  her  father  having  in  the  meanwhile  been 
engaged  in  the  manufacturing  of  furniture  on  a modest  scale. 

Howard  E.  Thompson  grew  to  maturity  under  the  beneficent  disci- 
pline of  the  home  farm  and  in  the  meanwhile  he  continued  to  attend 
the  district  schools  until  he  was  about  eighteen  years  of  age,  thus  laying 
adequate  foundation  for  the  excellent  practical  knowledge  and  broad 
general  information  which  he  has  since  gained  in  the  school  of  exper- 
ience. His  entire  active  career  has  been  one  of  consecutive  and 
successful  identification  with  the  great  basic  industries  of  agriculture 
and  stock-growing,  and  his  efforts  in  this  line  have  been  almost  entirely 
confined  to  the  splendid  old  homestead  farm  on  which  he  was  born  and 


520 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


of  which  lie  is  now  the  fortunate  owner,  having  purchased  the  place 
before  the  death  of  his  honored  father.  The  farm  is  improved  with 
excellent  buildings  and  its  facilities  and  accessories  are  of  the  best 
modern  type,  indicating  the  progressive  ideas  and  productive  thrift  of 
the  owner.  The  farm  comprises  one  hundred  and  sixty-eight  acres  of 
most  fertile  land  and  is  devoted  to  diversified  agriculture  and  to  the 
raising  of  excellent  grades  of  live  stock. 

In  politics  Mr.  Thompson  accords  an  unwavering  allegiance  to  the 
Republican  party,  and  he  has  been  an  active  worker  in  its  local  ranks. 
He  has  served  as  a member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  Marion  township 
and  is  known  as  a liberal  and  public  spirited  citizen, — one  who  is  ever 
ready  to  lend  his  influence  and  co-operation  in  the  promotion  of  measures 
and  enterprises  for  the  general  good  of  the  community.  He  is  affiliated 
with  Ada  Lodge,  No.  344,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and  with  Ada 
Chapter  No.  138,  Royal  Arch  Masons,  at  Ada,  this  county,  and  both  he 
and  his  wife  are  affiliated  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at 
Marysville. 

On  the  23d  of  June,  1880,  was  recorded  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Thomp- 
son to  Miss  Ida  M.  Conner,  who  was  born  in  Allen  county,  Ohio,  on  the 
15th  of  February,  1862,  and  who  is  a daughter  of  the  late  Abraham 
Conner,  a representative  farmer  of  this  section  of  the  state.  She 
x-eceived  excellent  educational  advantages  and  is  a woman  of  gracious 
personality,  making  the  attractive  family  home  a center  of  generous 
hospitality.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thompson  have  two  children : Martin,  who 
was  born  December  2,  1884,  and  who  is  associated  in  the  work  and 
management  of  the  home  farm,  married  Miss  Effie  Campbell  and  they 
have  two  children, — Marvin  and;  Elwood ; Mabel,  who  was  born  on  the 
25th  of  August,  1884,  remains  at  the  parental  home  and  is  a teacher 
of  music,  having  received  excellent  advantages  in  her  musical  work  and 
is  an  accomplished  performer  on  the  piano. 

Allen  Edwards. — The  popular  mayor  of  the  thriving  little  city  of 
MeGuffey  is  one  of  the  well  known  and  influential  business  men  of 
Hardin  county,  where  he  is  general  manager  of  the  extensive  interests 
of  the  Scioto  Land  Company,  which  controls  about  four  thousand  acres 
of  land  in  this  county  and  which  has  developed  the  property,  reclaiming 
the  fine  marsh  land  fo  cultivation  and  devoting  the  same  largely  to  the 
cultivation  of  onions,  in  which  particular  field  of  enterprise  it  is  not 
surpassed  by  any  concern  in  the  Union.  The  average  annual  production 
of  onions  alone,  to  say  nothing  of  the  many  other  vegetables  and  inciden- 
tal products  secured  from  the  farms  of  the  company,  is  now  fully  four 
hundred  thousand  bushels,  and  such  is  the  constituency  of  the  land  and 
such  the  careful  attention  given  to  every  detail  of  propagation  that  the 
output  is  of  the  most  superior  quality,  finding  a ready  demand  in  the 
leading  markets  of  the  country.  Mr.  Edwards  is  a stockholder  in  the 
company  and  gives  to  its  affairs  the  major  portion  of  his  time  and  atten- 
tion, being  known  as  a discriminating  executive  and  progressive  business 
man.  His  personal  popularity  in  the  community  is  indicated  by  his 
tenure  of  his  present  municipal  office,  and  he  is  ever  found  arrayed  as  a 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


521 


supporter  of  all  measures  and  enterprises  tending  to  advance  the  civic 
and  material  welfare  of  his  home  village  and  county. 

Allen  Edwards  was  born  in  the  city  of  Youngstown,  Mahoning 
county,  Ohio,  on  the  19th  of  December,  1861,  and  is  a son  of  Jonathan 
0.  and  Johanna  (Allen)  Edwards,  who  now  live  in  Pittsburg.  To  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  city  Allen  Edwards  is  indebted  for  his  early 
educational  discipline,  which  also  included  a course  in  the  Rayen  School 
at  Youngstown,  in  which  he  was  graduated  in  1878,  at  the  age  of  sixteen 
years.  After  leaving  school  he  became  identified  with  the  work  and 
management  of  a farm  owned  by  his  father  in  Mahoning  county.  His 
father  was  an  extensive  and  successful  breeder  of  shorthorn  cattle  and 
he  himself  became  prominent  in  connection  with  this  field  of  enterprise. 
He  gave  special  attention  to  the  breeding  of  this  type  of  cattle  and  ex- 
hibited his  fine  stock  at  many  state  fairs  and  live-stock  shows,  in  the 
meantime  securing  a large  number  of  premiums  and  medals. 

In  1889  Mr.  Edwards  came  to  Hardin  county  and  took  up  his 
residence  in  McGuffey.  He  was  made  manager  of  the  important  inter- 
ests of  the  Scioto  Land  Company  with  whose  interests  he  has  since  con- 
tinued to  be  identified  in  this  capacity,  being  one  of  the  stockholders  in 
the  company,  which  has  reclaimed  and  placed  under  most  effective  culti- 
vation about  four  hundred  acres  of  its  large  area  of  land.  The  improve- 
ments are  of  the  best  order  and  all  of  this  work  has  been  accomplished 
under  the  personal  supervision  and  direction  of  Mr.  Edwards,  who  like- 
wise has  charge  of  all  details  of  operation.  On  the  fine  farms  of  the 
company  employment  is  given  constantly  to  a force  of  about  sixty  men, 
and  at  certain  seasons  of  the  year  fully  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
persons  are  employed  in  the  cultivation  and  handling  of  the  enormous 
products. 

As  a citizen  Mr.  Edwards  is  essentially  loyal  and  progressive,  and  he 
is  held  in  unqualified  esteem  in  the  county  with  whose  industrial  affairs 
he  is  so  prominently  concerned.  In  politics  he  gives  allegiance  to  the 
Republican  party,  and  he  has  served  as  mayor  of  McGuffey  since  1909, 
besides  which  he  is  at  the  present  time  incumbent  of  the  office  of  justice 
of  the  peace.-  He  is  affiliated  with  Kenton  Lodge,  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and  also  holds  membership  in  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  zealous  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  in  McGuffey,  in  which  he  is  an  elder  as  well  as  a 
member  of  its  board  of  trustees.  As  mayor  of  McGuffey  he  has  given 
a most  effective  and  satisfactory  administration,  and  his  well  defined 
municipal  policies  have  inured  greatly  to  the  advantage  of  the  village 
and  its  people. 

On  the  30th  of  July,  1890.  Mr.  Edwards  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Emma  Conner,  daughter  of  John  P.  Conner,  an  honored  and 
influential  citizen  of  Ada.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edwards  have  one  daughter, 
Catherine,  who  is  now  (1910)  a student  in  the  musical  conservatory  of 
the  Ohio  Northern  University  at  Ada,  this  county. 

Thomas  Reed  Dunlap  well  merits  recognition  in  this  history  by 
reason  of  his  status  as  one  of  the  essentially  representative  business  men 


522 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


of  his  native  county,  where  he  is  held  in  unequivocal  confidence  and 
esteem  and  where  he  is  known  as  a loyal,  progressive  and  substantial 
citizen.  He  is  the  owner  of  the  large  and  well  equipped  grain  elevator 
at  Alger  and  in  the  village  of  McGuffey,  this  county,  he  operates  an 
elevator  of  still  greater  capacity.  He  has  built  up  a substantial  and 
extensive  business  as  a buyer  and  shipper  of  grain  and  also  makes  a 
specialty  of  the  buying  and  shipping  of  onions,  for  which  product  this 
section  of  the  state  has  gained  marked  reputation.  He  is  a business 
man  of  much  initiative  power,  enterprise  and  sagacity,  and  his  success 
stands  in  most  effective  evidence  of  his  ability  and  well  directed  en- 
deavors along  normal  lines  of  enterprise.  He  is  identified  with  other 
business  interests  of  important  order  and  may  consistently  be  designated 
one  of  the  veritable  “captains  of  industry”  in  his  native  county. 

Mr.  Dunlap  was  born  on  the  homestead  farm  of  his  father  in 
Marion  township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  on  the  6th  of  August,  1875,  and 
is  a son  of  James  R.  and  Belle  (Roberts)  Dunlap,  well  known  and  hon- 
ored citizens  of  the  county.  Mr.  Dunlap  was  reared  to  the  sturdy  and 
invigorating  discipline  of  the  farm  and  thus  early  learned  the  value 
and  dignity  of  honest  toil  and  endeavor,  the  while  he  availed  himself 
of  the  advantages  of  the  district  schools,  which  he  attended  during  the 
winter  terms,  assisting  in  the  work  of  the  home  farm  during  the  summer 
seasons.  Later  he  continued  his  studies  in  a select  school  at  Harrod, 
Allen  county,  after  which  he  was  one  year  a student  in  the  Ohio 
Northern  University  at  Ada.  After  leaving  this  institution  he  then 
came  to  Alger  where  he  purchased  the  grain  elevator,  which  he  has 
enlarged  and  otherwise  improved  and  which  he  has  since  operated  with 
ever  increasing  success,  handling  here  a large  volume  of  grain  each 
season  and  also  owning  and  operating  the  fine  elevator  at  McGuffey, 
which  is  the  shipping  point  for  an  even  larger  amount  of  the  grain 
which  he  purchases  each  year,  his  two  elevators  drawing  their  supplies 
from  a wide  area  of  the  fine  farming  district  in  Hardin  and  adjacent 
counties.  Mr.  Dunlap  ships  all  kinds  of  grain  to  the  leading  markets 
and  has  also  built  up  an  extensive  business  in  the  handling  of  onions, 
which  are  raised  in  large  quantities  in  this  county.  Fairness  and 
integrity  have  characterized  all  of  his  dealings,  so  that  he  has  an 
impregnable  hold  upon  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  those  with  whom 
he  has  had  business  association.  He  is  the  owner  of  a well  improved 
farm  of  eight  acres  in  Marion  township ; is  a stockholder  in  the  Alger 
Savings  Bank ; and  is  one  of  the  principal  stockholders  of  the  J.  W. 
Kirts  Company,  of  which  he  is  secretary.  This  company  was  incorpo- 
rated in  December,  1909,  with  a capital  stock  of  thirty  thousand  dollars, 
and  in  the  fall  of  1910  will  institute  the  operation  of  a large  and  finely 
stocked  general  merchandise  store  in  Alger.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that 
as  an  aggressive,  though  essentially  conservative,  business  man  Mr. 
Dunlap  is  contributing  largely  to  the  industrial  and  material  advance- 
ment and  prosperity  of  his  home  town  and  county,  and  he  manifests  a 
lively  interest  in  all  measures  and  enterprises  that  tend  to  advance  the 
general  welfare. 

Though  never  ambitious  for  the  honors  or  emoluments  of  public 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


523 


office,  Mr.  Dunlap  is  a stanch  supporter  of  the  cause  of  the  Republican 
party.  He  is  affiliated  with  Ada  Lodge  No.  344,  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  and  with  Chapter  No.  138,  Royal  Arch  Masons,  at  Ada,  this 
county,  and  is  deeply  appreciative  of  the  time-honored  fraternity  with 
which  he  is  thus  identified.  He  is  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. 

On  the  1st  of  December.  1903,  Mr.  Dunlap  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Yand  Randall,  daughter  of  Professor  Don  W.  Randall,  super 
intendent  of  the  public  schools  of  Wapakoneta,  Ohio,  in  whose  high 
school  she  was  graduated.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dunlap  have  one  daughter, 
Mary  R.,  who  was  born  on  the  21st-  of  October,  1909. 

Robert  A.  Elliott,  M.  D. — One  of  the  representative  physicians 
and  surgeons  of  the  younger  generation  in  Hardin  county  and  who  is 
admirably  fortified  for  the  respopsible  work  of  his  chosen  profession  is 
Dr.  Elliott,  who  is  engaged  in  practice  in  the  village  of  Alger,  where  he 
has  a representative  clientage  and  where  he  is  held  in  high  regard  as  a 
physician  and  as  a loyal  and  progressive  citizen. 

Dr.  Elliott  reverts  with  no  slight  measure  of  satisfaction  to  the  fact 
that  he  is  a native  son  of  the  fine  old  Buckeye  state,  which  has  repre- 
sented his  home  from  the  time  of  his  birth  and  with  whose  annals  the 
family  name  has  been  identified  for  three  or  more  generations.  The 
Doctor  was  born  on  the  homestead  farm  of  his  parents  in  Union  town- 
ship, Auglaize  county,  Ohio,  on  the  7th  of  December,  1881,  and  is  a son 
of  Levi  N.  and  Mary  J.  (Stamats)  Elliott,  both  of  whom  still  reside  in 
that  county.  Dr.  Elliott  early  learned  the  lessons  of  practical  industry 
in  connection  with  the  work  of  the  home  farm,  and  his  preliminary 
educational  training  was  secured  in  the  district  schools,  which  he  con- 
tinued to  attend  during  the  winter  terms  until  he  was  sixteen  years  of 
age,  in  the  meanwhile  he  assisted  in  the  work  of  the  home  farm  during 
the  summer  months.  At  the  age  noted  he  entered  the  high  school  at 
Wapakoneta,  in  which  he  was  graduated  as  a member  of  the  class  of 
1901.  In  the  following  year  he  was  graduated  in  the  department  of 
pharmacy  at  the  Ohio  Northern  University  at  Ada,  Ohio,  and  thereafter 
he  was  employed  for  an  interval  as  a pharmacist.  Having  decided  to 
enter  the  medical  profession  and  being  well  fortified  in  many  of  the 
scientific  methods  and  processes  pertaining  thereto,  by  reason  of  his 
knowledge  of  chemistry  and  pharmacy,  he  finally  was  matriculated  in 
the  Eclectic  Medical  Institute  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  in  which  he  was 
graduated  in  1905  and  from  which  he  received  his  well  earned  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Medicine.  He  immediately  took  up  his  residence  in  Alger, 
where  he  has  built  up  an  excellent  practice  and  established  a stanch 
reputation  as  a physician  and  surgeon  of  distinctive  skill  and  discrimina- 
tion. He  is  a member  of  the  Northwestern  Ohio  Eclectic  Medical  Asso- 
ciation and  continues  a close  and  appreciative  student  of  his  profession, 
keeping  in  touch  with  the  advances  made  in  the  sciences  of  both  medicine 
and  surgery.  He  is  medical  examiner  for  the  Pacific  Mutual  Life 
Insurance  Company,  the  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company  of  New  York, 
the  Prudential  Life  Insurance  Company  of  Newark,  New  Jersey,  the 


524 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Maccabees  National  Life  Insurance  Company,  of  Vermont,  and  the 
Security  Life  Insurance  Company.  In  a fraternal  way  he  is  affiliated 
with  Hamer  Lodge  No.  167,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons  at  Wapakoneta 
and  with  the  order  of  Elks. 

In  politics  Dr.  Elliott  is  found  aligned  as  a stanch  supporter  of  the 
cause  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  the  esteem  in  which  he  is  held  in 
Alger  is  well  indicated  by  the  fact  that  he  is  at  the  present  time  giving 
an  admirable  administration  as  its  mayor  having  been  elected  to  this 
office  in  November  of  1909.  This  preferment  is  a definite  assurance  of 
personal  popularity,  and  the  Doctor  is  fully  appreciative  of  the  honor 
thus  conferred  upon  him.  He  is  liberal  and  progressive  as  a citizen 
and  municipal  executive  and  gives  his  influence  in  support  of  every 
measure  tending  to  promote  the  general  welfare  of  the  community. 

In  1909  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Dr.  Elliott  to  Miss  Lauretta 
Wolgamot,  daughter  of  Leon  P.  Wolgamot,  a well  known  citizen  of  Logan 
county. 

Harley  N.  Willson,  an  active  and  energetic  farmer  of  Blanchard 
township,  owns  and  operates  eighty  acres  of  valuable  land,  which  he 
devotes  to  general  farming.  His  success  has  been  reached  by  industry 
and  good  management,  and  he  is  considered  a representative,  useful 
citizen.  Mr.  Willson  was  born  in  Wyandotte  county,  Ohio,  in  1870,  and 
is  a son  of  J.  R.  Willson,  also  living  in  Blanchard  township,  where  he 
owns  a valuable  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  J.  R.  Willson 
purchased  this  land  in  1872  and  moved  to  it  two  years  later;  by  hard 
work  and  untiring  energy  he  evolved  a productive  and  well  tilled  farm 
from  the  wilderness.  He  was  born  in  Sycamore  township,  Wyandotte 
county,  Ohio,  July  19,  1838,  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native  county 
and  has  always  devoted  his  time  to  agricultural  pursuits.  In  1864  he 
enlisted  as  a member  of  Company  H,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-fourth 
Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  was  honorably  discharged  at  the  end  of  the 
war.  He  was  united  in  marriage,  in  1865,  with  Lovina  Longabaugh, 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  five  children,  namely:  Charles  C.,  John 
E.,  Harley  N.,  J.  R.,  Jr.,  and  Ilulda.  Mr.  Willson  has  for  sixteen  years 
been  sorely  afflicted,  having  lost  his  sight.  J.  R.  Willson  is  a son  of 
Elisha  and  TTulda  (Shotwell)  Willson,  both  natives  of  New  Jersey,  who 
came  to  Ohio  in  1833.  To  them  were  born  five  children,  namely: 
Elvira.  J.  R.,  Z.  S..  Rosella  and  Gilbert  F. 

Harley  N.  Willson  was  reared  and  educated  in  Hardin  county,  to 
which  his  father  had  come  in  1874,  and  has  established  a good  reputation 
in  the  community  where  he  has  so  long  resided.  He  chose  the  vocation 
of  farming,  and  has  followed  it  all  his  life.  Lie  has  served  as  township 
supervisor,  and  is  a member  of  the  school  board. 

In  1895  Mr.  Willson  married  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Calvin  and 
Emma  Reed,  and  to  them  were  born  four  children,  namely:  Philip  S., 
(deceased),  Edwin  M.,  Kermit  II.  and  Dorothea  M.  Mrs.  Willson  was 
born  in  Blanchard  township,  Hardin  county,  in  1876.  Both  she  and  her 
husband  are  devout  members  of  the  Christian  church. 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


525 


William  S.  Robinson. — On  other  pages  of  this  work  is  entered  a 
memorial  tribute  to  General  James  S.  Robinson,  a distinguished  figure 
in  the  military  and  public  annals  of  the  nation,  and  of  this  honored  citi- 
zen of  Hardin  county,  where  he  maintained  his  home  until  the  time  of  his 
death,  the  subject  of  the  sketch  at  hand  is  a son.  As  ready  reference 
may  be  made  to  the  memoir  mentioned,  it  is  not  requisite  that  the  data 
be  repeated  in  the  present  article. 

William  S.  Robinson  was  a native  of  Kenton,  Hardin  county,  where 
he  was  born  on  the  14th  of  January,  1851,  and  where  the  major  portion 
of  his  life  was  passed.  He  became  one  of  the  representative  business 
men  of  his  native  city  and  as  a citizen  he  well  upheld  the  prestige  of  the 
honored  name  which  he  bore.  He  died  in  Kenton  on  the  27th  of 
December,  1905,  leaving  the  heritage  of  a good  name  and  of  worthy 
accomplishments  as  one  of  the  world’s  noble  army  of  workers.  Mr. 
Robinson  gained  his  early  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Kenton 
and  supplemented  this  by  higher  academic  study.  As  a young  man  he 
served  for  several  years  as  teller  in  the  Kenton  Savings  Bank  and  later 
he  went  to  Springfield,  Ohio,  where  he  assumed  a clerical  position  in  the 
office  of  the  well  known  firm  of  Warder,  Busline]]  and  Mitchell,  manu- 
facturers of  agricultural  machinery,  and  he  continued  in  the  employ  of 
this  concern  for  about  two  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which  he  returned 
to  Kenton,  where  he  became  associated  with  his  cousin,  Henry  Spelman, 
and  engaged  in  the  retail  hardware  business  under  the  firm  name  of 
Robinson  & Spelman.  This  mutually  pleasing  business  alliance  contin- 
ued about  twenty  years  and  was  severed  only  by  the  death  of  the 
honored  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Like  his  distinguished  father,  Mr.  Robinson  was  a stanch  and 
uncompromising  advocate  of  the  principles  and  policies  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  while  he  had  naught  of  ambition  for  public  office  and 
never  consented  to  permit  the  use  of  his  name  in  connection  therewith, 
he  gave  a liberal  support  to  the  party  cause  and  as  a citizen  he  was 
essentially  loyal,  progressive  and  public  spirited.  By  reason  of  his 
father’s  service  as  an  officer  in  the  Civil  war  he  became  eligible  for 
membership  in  the  military  order  of  the  Loyal  Legion  of  the  United 
States.  He  was  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  was  deeply 
appreciative  of  its  teachings  and  high  ideals.  In  his  native  city  he  ever 
held  a secure  place  in  the  popular  confidence  and  esteem,  and  his  death 
was  deeply  lamented  in  the  community  which  had  so  long  been  his  home. 
He  was  a communicant  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church,  as  is  also  his 
widow,  who  still  retains  her  home  in  Kenton. 

On  the  27th  of  October,  1881,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Robinson  to  Miss  Alice  Powell,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  and  who  is  the  daughter  of  James  and  Anna  (Foley)  Powell. 
Her  father  was  born  in  the  city  of  Ghent,  Belgium,  and  was  about  three 
years  of  age  at  the  time  of  the  family’s  removal  to  America.  His 
parents  located  in  the  city  of  Cincinnati,  where  he  was  reared  to  manhood 
and  received  excellent  educational  advantages.  For  a short  time  after 
his  arrival  in  this  country  Mr.  Powell  resided  in  Illinois,  and  he  then 
removed  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  he  established  a small  brass  foundry 
Vol.  II— 6 


526 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


at  the  rear  of  his  home.  From  this  modest  inception  was  built  up  a 
flourishing  enterprise  and  he  became  one  of  the  representative  manufac- 
turers of  the  Queen  City.  Finally  his  son  James  became  associated 
with  him  in  the  business  and  the  enterprise  is  still  continued,  being  one 
of  the  largest  of  its  kind  in  Cincinnati.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Robinson 
continued  to  make  their  home  in  Cincinnati  until  their  death. 

To  William  S.  and  Alice  (Powell)  Robinson  were  born  two  children, 
Helen,  who  has  been  the  principal  of  the  West  school  in  Hardin  county 
for  several  years  and  who  is  one  of  the  successful  and  popular  teachers 
in  connection  with  the  public  schools  of  the  city,  and  James  Sidney,  the 
son,  is  a Senior  in  the  high  school  class  of  1910.  Both  he  and  his  sister 
remain  with  their  widowed  mother.  The  family  have  a secure  place  in 
connection  with  the  best  social  activities  of  the  community. 

Elliott  G.  ITarriman,  who  now  maintains  his  home  in  the  attractive 
little  village  of  Alger,  has  been  a resident  of  Hardin  county  since  his 
childhood  days  and  has  long  been  known  as  one  of  the  substantial  and 
representative  citizens  of  the  county,  where  he  has  been  identified  with 
agricultural  pursuits  and  other  lines  of  productive  business  enterprise 
and  where  he  commands  the  popular  confidence  and  esteem  ever  marking 
objective  appreciation  of  sterling  worth  of  character.  He  is  a represen- 
tative of  one  of  the  honored  pioneer  families  of  Ohio  and  one  that  was 
founded  in  America  in  the  colonial  epoch. 

Elliott  G.  Harriman  was  born  in  Delaware  county,  Ohio,  on  the 
5th  of  February,  1851,  and  is  a son  of  William  and  Evaline  (Johnson) 
Harriman,  whose  marriage  was  solemnized  in  Logan  county,  this  state. 
William  Harriman  was  born  in  Logan  county  on  the  6th  of  April,  1829, 
and  was  a son  of  Simpkins  Harriman,  whose  father,  David  Harriman, 
was  born  in  1755,  being  a son  of  David  Harriman,  who  was  born  in  1710 
and  died  in  1778.  The  latter  was  a son  of  John  Harriman,  who  was 
born  in  1680  and  whose  death  occurred  in  1740 ; his  father  was  Rev. 
John  Harriman,  who  was  born  in  1647  and  died  in  1704.  This  honored 
ancestor  was  graduated  in  Harvard  College  as  a member  of  the  class  of 
1667,  was  a man  of  distinguished  attainments  and  for  twenty  years 
served  as  pastor  of  a church  in  New  Haven,  Connecticut.  He  devoted 
thirty-four  years  to  the  work  of  the  ministry  and  in  the  archives  of  New 
England  history  his  name  finds  honorable  mention.  He  was  a son  of 
John  Harriman,  who  was  born  in  Rowley,  Yorkshire,  England,  in  1608, 
and  who  was  the  founder  of  the  family  in  America,  whither  he  came  in 
1638,  settling  in  New  Haven,  Connecticut,  and  becoming  a man  of  promi- 
nence and  influence  in  the  colony.  His  death  occurred  in  1681. 

Simpkins  Harriman,  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  review,  was  a 
native  of  the  state  of  Pennsylvania  and  came  to  Ohio  about  the  year 
1825,  and  he  became  one  of  the  sterling  pioneers  of  Logan  county,  where 
he  secured  a tract  of  wild  land  and  reclaimed  a farm,  continuing  his 
residence  in  that  county  until  his  death.  There  his  son  William  was 
reared  to  manhood  under  the  conditions  and  influences  of  the  pioneer 
days  and  there  was  identified  with  agricultural  pursuits  until  he  moved 
to  Delaware  county,  which  continued  to  be  his  home  for  a few  years. 


■ 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


527 


About  the  year  1853  William  Harriman  came  to  Hardin  county  and 
purchased  a farm  in  Dudley  township,  where  he  became  a successful 
agriculturist  and  stock-grower  and  a citizen  who  wielded  no  little  influ- 
ence in  local  affairs.  He  was  a man  of  sturdy  integrity,  of  strong 
individuality  and  of  indefatigable  industry,  so  that  he  attained  to  a due 
measure  of  success  in  connection  with  his  business  affairs.  He  lived  and 
labored  to  goodly  ends  and  his  name  merits  a place  on  the  roll  of  those 
who  have  contributed  to  the  social  and  material  upbuilding  of  the 
county.  He  continued  to  reside  on  his  old  homestead  farm  until  1878, 
when  he  moved  to  Kenton,  where  he  died,  on  March  7.  1895,  at  which 
time  he  was  sixty-five  years  and  eleven  months  old ; his  devoted  wife, 
who  had  been  a cherished  companion  and  helpmeet,  passed  to  the  life 
eternal  in  1900.  at  the  age  of  seventy  years,  both  having  been  members 
of  the  United  Brethren  and  later  of  the  Disciples  church.  Of  their 
children  Elliott  G.  was  the  first  born ; Sarah  J.  is  the  wife  of  Ray  B. 
Thompson,  of  Kenton,  this  county;  John  E.  died  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
years ; Mary  E.  is  the  wife  of  William  Saunders  and  they  reside  near 
Marysville,  Union  county,  Ohio;  and  Lydia  A.  is  the  wife  of  John 
McMahon,  a prosperous  farmer  near  Kenton,  Hardin  county. 

Elliott  Green  Harriman,  the  immediate  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
about  three  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  the  family  removal  from  Delaware 
county  to  Hardin  county,  and  on  the  home  farm  in  Dudley  township  he 
was  reared  to  years  of  maturity,  early  beginning  to  assist  in  the  work  of 
the  farm  and  in  the  meanwhile  attending  the  district  schools,  in  which 
he  continued  his  studies  during  the  winter  terms  until  he  was  about 
eighteen  years  of  age.  That  he  made  good  use  of  the  advantages  thus 
afforded  him  is  evident  when  we  revert  to  the  fact  that  he  became  a 
successful  and  popular  teacher  in  the  district  schools  of  his  home  county, 
having  initiated  his  labors'  in  the  pedagogic  profession  when  eighteen 
years  of  age.  In  the  year  1871  he  was  a student  in  the  Ohio  Northern 
University  at  Ada,  and  after  leaving  this  institution  he  continued  teach- 
ing, to  which  vocation  he  devoted  his  attention  for  a total  of  about  six 
years,  being  identified  with  farming  during  the  summer  seasons  and  act- 
ing as  schoolmaster  during  the  winter  terms. 

The  active  career  of  Mr.  Harriman  has  been  one  of  close  and  siic- 
eessful  identification  with  agricultural  pursuits  until  within  recent 
years,  and  he  is  still  the  owner  of  a farm  in  Marion  township.  He  took 
up  his  residence  on  his  farm  in  that  township  on  the  10th  of  January, 
1892,  and  there  he  continued  to  live  until  1903,  when  he  moved  to  the 
village  of  Alger,  where  he  is  now  successfully  engaged  in  the  real-estate 
and  insurance  business.  Besides  his  farm  in  Marion  township,  near 
Alger,  he  is  also  the  owner  of  a well  improved  farm  of  eighty  acres  in 
Allen  county,  this  state.  He  has  been  enterprising  and  progressive  as 
a farmer  and  business  man  and  has  not  been  denied  a generous  measure 
of  success  in  connection  with  his  well  directed  endeavors.  His  hold  upon 
popular  confidence  and  esteem  is  most  secure,  being  based  upon  sterling 
elements  of  character  and  genial  and  kindly  attitude  in  his  relations 
with  his  fellow  men.  He  and  his  wife  are  zealous  and  valued  mefnbers 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  their  home  village,  and  in  a fra- 


528 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


teraal  way  he  is  affiliated  with  Ada  Lodge  No.  344,  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  at  Ada,  this  county. 

In  polities  Mr.  Harriman  has  ever  found  the  Republican  party 
worthy  of  his  unqualified  allegiance  and  he  takes  a lively  interest  in  the 
questions  and  issues  of  the  hour,  besides  which  he  is  essentially  progres- 
sive and  public-spirited  in  connection  with  civic  affairs  of  a more  local- 
ized order.  While  residing  on  his  farm  he  served  two  terms  as  clerk  of 
Dudley  township,  and  for  eight  years  he  was  a member  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  Marion  township.  In  Alger  he  has  served  as  a member  of 
the  village  council  and  as  president  of  the  board  of  education. 

On  the  6th  of  March,  1873,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Harriman  to  Miss  Nancy  E.  Richey,  who  was  born  in  New  Dover,  Union 
county,  Ohio,  on  the  9th  of  November,  1854,  and  who  is  a daughter  of 
Joseph  N.  and  Edna  (Farnum)  Richey,  both  of  whom  were  born  in 
Union  county,  Ohio,  the  former  on  the  12th  of  March,  1822,  and  the 
latter  in  1837.  Joseph  Richey  was  for  many  years  successfully  engaged 
in  business  as  a buyer  and  shipper  of  live  stock  and  he  passed  the  closing 
years  of  his  life  in  Union  county,  where  he  died  on  the  11th  of  May, 
1882.  His  wife  survived  him  until  the  1st  of  February,  1907,  when  she 
too  was  summoned  to  the  “land  of  the  leal.”  William  Richey,  grand- 
father of  Mrs.  Harriman,  was  a native  of  Scotland.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Harriman  became  the  parents  of  four  children,  concerning  whom  the 
following  brief  record  i.s  entered : Calvin  A.,  who  was  born  February 

9,  1874,  is  now  a successful  and  popular  teacher  in  the  public  schools  of 
Allen  county,  this  state;  William  G.,  who  was  born  on  the  27th  of 
November,  1875,  died  on  the  1st  of  the  following  May;  Charles  E.,  who 
was  born  November  27,  1879,  is  a telegraph  operator,  employed  by'the 
Erie  Railroad  Company  at  Boone  Grove,  Indiana;  and  John  E.,  who  was 
born  October  27.  1896,  is  a student  in  the  graded  schools  of  Alger. 

Dr.  J.  S.  Hedrick  is  one  of  the  leading  physicians  of  Dunkirk,  Ohio, 
where  he  has  been  in  practice  since  1888.  He  was  born  in  York  county, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1859,  and  received  his  primary  education  in  the  place 
of  his  nativity.  He  is  a son  of  Isaac  and  Sallie  (Mundis)  Hedrick,  both 
also  born  in  York  county  and  both  now  deceased.  There  were  four 
children  in  their  family,  and  all  are  yet  living,  but  Dr.  Hedrick  is  the 
only  one  of  the  number  who  has  entered  professional  life  and  the  only 
one  residing  in  Hardin  county. 

lie  attended  Stewartstown  Academy  and  the  Millersville  State 
Normal  School,  and  then  began  preparing  for  the  profession  which  he 
had  chosen  as  his  life’s  work.  The  first  year  was  spent  in  the  College 
of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  at  Baltimore,  was  then  two  years  a student 
in  the  Starling  Medical  College  at  Columbus  and  graduated  with  its 
class  of  1882,  and  then  after  six  years  of  active  practice  he  entered  the 
Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  College  and  graduated  therefrom  in  1888. 
This  was  followed  by  a post  graduate  course  at  the  New  York  Post 
Graduate  School,  and  in  1908  took  a special  course  at  the  Johns  Hopkins 
University.  With  this  splendid  training  he  came  to  Hardin  county, 
and  after  a few  years  spent  at  Dola  he  located  in  Dunkirk  and  has  since 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


529 


been  one  of  its  most  successful  physicians.  He  has  accordingly  built  up 
a large  and  lucrative  practice,  and  has  won  the  confidence  and  esteem  of 
the  community.  Dr.  Hedrick  is  a member  of  the  Hardin  County 
Medical  Society,  of  which  he  is  a past  president,  and  a member  of  the 
Northwestern  Ohio  Medical  Society,  the  State  Medical  Society  and  the 
American  Medical  Association.  Socially  he  is  a member  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias,  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Benevolent 
and  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  He  stands  high  in  his  profession,  and 
takes  a commendable  interest  in  public  affairs. 

In  1881  Dr.  Hedrick  married  Catherine  Edwards,  by  whom  he  had 
two  children,  David  I.  and  Laura  M.  The  son  graduated  in  1909  from 
the  United  States  Naval  Academy  at  Annapolis,  standing  at  the  head  of 
his  class,  and  he  was  immediately  appointed  to  a position  on  board  the 
U.  S.  battleship  New  Hampshire.  Dr.  Hedrick  married  for  his  second 
wife  in  1899  Netta  Williamson,  of  Hardin  county,  and  they  have  a son, 
John  S.  Hedrick. 

John  A.  Ropp,  a prosperous  farmer  of  Jackson  township,  was  born 
in  this  township  on  July  29,  1860.  He  is  a son  of  Simon  and  Lydia 
J.  (Stevens)  Ropp,  natives  of  Logan  and  Knox  counties,  Ohio,  respec- 
tively. Simon  Ropp’s  father  entered  eighty  acres  of  wild  government 
land  previous  to  1835,  and  this  afterward  became  the  property  of  Simon 
and  now  belongs  to  his  son  John  A.  Simon  Ropp  and  his  wife  had  the 
following  children:  Fhma,  May  D.,  John  A.,  Hattie  (deceased).  Dale 

(deceased),  and  two  who  died  in  infancy.  Flora  and  May  D.  are  resi- 
dents of  Hancock  county,  Ohio.  Simon  Ropp  was  born  August  15,  1829, 
and  died  February  28,  1907 ; his  widow  still  resides  on  the  home  farm. 
Mrs.  Lydia  Ropp  is  a daughter  of  Jonathan  Stevens,  whose  children 
were:  Lydia  J.,  Sarah,  Lucinda,  Mary,  Nettie,' Langford  and  Bryant. 

John  A.  Ropp  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools  of  his 
native  township,  and  subsequently  attended  night  school  in  Columbus, 
Ohio.  He  spent  his  early  life  on  a farm,  and  when  fifteen  years  of  age 
entered  the  Athletic  School  of  Columbus,  from  which  he  graduated  in 
1878.  He  then  contracted  with  Sells  Brothers  as  an  acrobat,  and  his 
wonderful  bareback  riding  and  other  feats  delighted  thousands  of 
spectators  in  attendance  at  the  “World’s  Greatest  Show.”  In  this  ‘ 
capacity  he  traveled  over  the  United  States,  Australia  and  New  Zealand. 
One  of  the  great  attractions  of  the  show  was  “Ropp,”  the  fearless,  dar- 
ing, intrepid  bareback  rider  and  leaper — at  that  time  the  world ’s  famous 
leaper.  Besides  giving  him  an  income,  this  afforded  him  the  opportun- 
ity of  obtaining  an  education  which  can  only  be  secured  by  travel,  and  he 
profited  well  by  it.  After  seven  years’  successfully  spent  with  this 
company  Mr.  Ropp  returned  to  his  native  state  and  spent  some  years  in 
Columbus,  Ohio.  In  1897  he  returned  to  Jackson  township,  Hardin 
county,  and  has  since  been  engaged  in  farming.  His  well  improved 
farm  of  ninety  acres  he  devotes  to  general  farming,  and  has  met  with 
success  in  this  enterprise. 

In  1900  Mr.  Ropp  married  Laura  hi.,  daughter  of  A.  M.  and  May  A. 
Bowers.  Mr.  Bowers  was  born  at  Green  Springs,  Seneca  county,  Ohio, 


530 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


and  married  Mary  A.  Pisel,  a native  of  Hardin  county,  Ohio;  their 
children  were:  Reuben,  Libbie,  William  N.,  Laura  M.,  James  M.  and 

Annie  L.  Mr.  Ropp  and  his  wife  became  parents  of  three  children, 
Elmer  IT,  Frank  S.  and  Ellena.  Mrs.  Ropp  is  a native  of  Jackson 
township,  and  was  born  February  29,  1880. 

Nathaniel  Williamson,  late  of  Pleasant  township,  Hardin  county, 
was  a man  of  sterling  character,  straightforward  and  honest  in  his  deal- 
ings, and  ever  ready  to  respond  to  any  reasonable  demand  upon  his  time, 
energies  or  sympathies.  Although  the  later  years  of  his  life  were  passed 
in  agricultural  pursuits,  he  taught  school  many  years  in  his  younger 
days,  and  was  ever  a friend  of  education.  He  was  born,  in  1828,  in 
Richland  county,  Ohio,  and  died  on  the  Williamson  homestead  in 
Pleasant  township  in  1885,  aged  fifty-seven  years. 

His  father,  William  Williamson,  a son  of  Bartholomew  Williamson, 
emigrated  from  Virginia,  his  native  state,  to  Ohio,  becoming  a pioneer 
settler  of  Richland  county.  A few  years  later  he  took  up  his  residence 
in  Ashland  county,  from  there  coming,  in  1834,  to  Hardin  county, 
making  the  journey  through  the  well  nigh  pathless  woods  with  teams, 
bringing  his  family  and  household  goods  with  him.  On  March  13,  after 
eight  days’  travel,  he  arrived  in  Pleasant  township.  Buying  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  timbered  land,  he  cut  trees  to  make  room  for 
a small  cabin  of  hewed  logs,  which  was  the  family’s  first  home  in  this 
region.  He  began  the  improvement  of  a homestead,  but  ere  he  had 
accomplished  very  much  of  the  necessary  task  his  earthly  career  was  cut 
short,  his  death  oceuring  in  1836.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Catherine  Bryte,  survived  him,  attaining  the  age  of  seventy-one  years. 
She  married  a second  time,  John  Gumm,  a.  farmer  in  Washington  town- 
ship, becoming  her  husband.  By  her  first  marriage  she  had  four  chil- 
dren, namely : Nathaniel,  Bartholomew,  Rachel  A.,  and  Hannah  J. 

John  Gumm,  Jr.,  the  only  child  of  her  second  union,  was  a soldier  in  the 
Civil  war,  and  lost  his  life  while  in  service. 

A lad  of  eight  years  when  his  father  died,  Nathaniel  Williamson 
continued  to  live  with  his  mother  and  step-father,  acquiring  a practical 
education  in  the  public  schools,  which  was  supplemented  by  home  study 
and  reading.  While  yet  in  his  teens  he  began  teaching  during  the 
winter  seasons.  On  attaining  his  majority  he,  with  his  brother  and  sis- 
ters, returned  to  the  paternal  homestead  in  Pleasant  township,  and 
resumed  the  work  of  clearing  the  land  which  had  been  commenced  by  his 
father  so  many  years  before.  He  continued  his  professional  labors,  too, 
teaching  the  winter  terms  of  school  for  twenty  years,  being  employed  one 
winter  at  Dunkirk,  the  remaining  terms  teaching  nearer  home.  Even- 
tually Mr.  Williamson  purchased  the  interests  of  his  brother  and  sisters 
in  the  old  homestead,  and  was  there  successfully  engaged  in  general 
farming  until  his  death. 

Mr.  Williamson  married,  April  12,  1855,  Serena  Davis,  who 
was  born  in  March,  1835,  in  Marion  county,  Ohio,  a daughter  of 
Walter  Davis.  It  was  a member  of  that  branch  of  the  Davis  family  to 
which  she  belonged  that  gave  Ohio  its  nickname.  He  was  pitted  against 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


531 


another  man  in  a wood  chopping  contest,  each  man  to  select  a tree.  He 
chose  a buckeye,  won  the  match,  and  the  state  has  since  been  called,  in 
his  honor,  the  “Buckeye”  state.  Walter  Davis  removed  from  Marietta, 
Ohio,  to  Marion  county,  and  purchased  land  lying  on  the  Hardin  county 
line,  and  there  engaged  in  tilling  the  soil,  at  the  same  time  operating  a 
sawmill,  which  was  run  by  water  power,  continuing  his  labors  until  his 
death.  He  married  Caroline  Otis,  who  was  born  in  Connecticut,  a 
daughter  of  Stephen  and  Mary  (Claudy)  Otis.  Her  grandfather, 
Barnabas  Otis,  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  enlisting  in  Litchfield, 
Connecticut.  He  and  his  wife,  Mehitable  Turner,  subsequently  settled 
in  Marion  county,  Ohio,  and  at  his  death  was  buried  in  Paw  Paw  ceme- 
tery. Mrs.  Williamson  received  an  excellent  education,  and  prior  to 
her  marriage  was  engaged  in  teaching. 

Eleven  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Williamson,  namely: 
Ida,  Florence  R.,  Walter  D.,  Mamie  E.,  Carrie,  Belle  0.,  Lillie  M., 
Nettie  V.,  William,  Sheridan  and  Edna  A.  Five  of  these  children 
became  teachers  in  the  public  schools,  and  one  became  a music  teacher. 
When  young,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Williamson  united  with  the  Church  of  Christ 
and  brought  up  their  children  in  the  same  religious  faith. 

James  S.  Wetherill. — A man  of  push,  enterprise  and  ability, 
James  S.  Wetherill,  of  Kenton,  is  actively  identified  with  one  of  the 
important  industries  of  this  part  of  the  county,  being  manager  of  the 
Crystal  Ice  and  Cold  Storage  Company,  which  is  carrying  on  a sub- 
stantial business  in  this  vicinity,  facilitating  the  business  growth  and 
prosperity  of  the  city  in  ways  unthought  of  when  it  was  first  established. 
He  is  a native  of  Hardin  county,  his  birth  having  occurred,  September 
14,  1869,  in  the  town  of  Alger.  His  father,  James  G.  Wetherill,  was 
likewise  born  in  this  county,  having  drawn  the  first  breath  of  life,  in 
1843,  in  Marion  township.  John  R.  Wetherill,  grandfather  of  James 
S.,  was  born  in  Lincolnshire,  England,  and  came  with  his  parents  to 
America.  After  living  for  awhile  in  Richland  county  he  located  in 
Hardin  county,  becoming  a pioneer  of  Marion  township.  Buying  a 
tract  of  timbered  land,  he  labored  with  unceasing  toil  and  in  course  of 
time  reclaimed  a farm  from  the  forest,  and  was  there  an  honored  and 
respected  resident  until  his  death,  at  the  advanced  age  of  four  score  and 
ten  years. 

James  G.  Wetherill  attended  the  pioneer  schools  of  his  day,  and  in 
tender  years  began  to  assist  his  father  in  the  work  of  the  farm.  At  the 
breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war  his  patriotic  spirit  was  aroused,  and  early 
in  1861,  being  then  eighteen  years  old,  he  enlisted  in  Company  C, 
Fortieth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  immediately  going  to  the  front, 
was  with  his  regiment  in  all  of  its  marches,  campaigns  and  engagements 
until  after  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  being  left  in  the  field.  Just 
before  that  memorable  battle  James  A.  Garfield,  colonel  of  his  regiment, 
called  upon  him  to  hold  his  horse  while  he  made  observations  with  a field 
glass.  During  the  battle  that  followed  Mr.  Wetherill  was  severely 
wounded  in  the  right  hand,  was  taken  prisoner,  and  kept  thirteen  days 
without  proper  surgical  care.  Being  then  exchanged  he  was  sent  to  the 


532 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Camp  Chase  Hospital,  where  he  was  treated  for  several  months,  after 
which  he  was  honorably  discharged  and  returned  home.  He  subse- 
quently became  a buyer  and  shipper  of  live  stock,  and  conducted  an 
extensive  business,  becoming  widely  and  favorably  known.  He  died 
when  but  forty-four  years  old,  being  accidentally  killed  while  moving  a 
building,  gratuitously,  for  a widow  in  his  neighborhood.  He  married 
Emily  Donaldson,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  a daughter  of  Andrew 
and  Elizabeth  Donaldson.  She  died  in  September,  1909,  leaving  two 
sons,  Emer  E.,  a farmer  of  Clyde,  Ohio,  and  James  S.,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch. 

Receiving  his  elementary  education  in  the  schools  of  Cessna  town- 
ship, James  S.  Wetherill  afterward  entered  the  Fostoria  Academy, 
where  he  spent  one  year,  and  he  then  spent  two  years  at  the  Ohio 
Northern  University  at  Ada.  He  engaged  in  teaching,  first  in  a dis- 
trict school  northeast  of  Kenton,  afterward  teaching  drawing  in  the 
Kenton  schools  for  four  years.  Embarking  then  in  the  mercantile 
pursuits,  he  was  actively  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  three  years, 
He  then  served  two  years  as  deputy  county  surveyor,  giving  it  up  in 
1907  to  accept  his  present  position  as  manager  of  The  Crystal  Ice  and 
Cold  Storage  Company,  a prominent  and  growing  industry. 

Mr.  Wetherill  is  married,  his  wife  being  Miss  Roberta  Gage,  of 
Forest,  Ohio.  To  this  union  were  born  four  children,  namely : Grace, 
True,  Fern  and  Gage.  In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  Wetherill  is  a 
steadfast  Republican,  and  is  now  a member  and  clerk  of  the  Kenton 
school  board.  Fraternally  he  is  a member  of  the  Amicitia  Lodge  No. 
79,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  belongs  to  the  Epworth  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Lloyd  Id.  Clark. — This  well  known  citizen  and  representative  busi- 
ness man  of  Hardin  county  is  a scion  of  one  of  the  old  and  honored 
families  of  this  section  of  the  state  and  the  major  part  of  his  life  has 
been  passed  in  Hardin  county,  where  he  has  gained  distinctive  success 
through  his  own  well  directed  endeavors,  being  now  the  president  of  the 
Alger  Clay  Manufacturing  Company,  the  leading  industrial  and  business 
concern  of  the  thriving  little  city  of  Alger,  of  which  he  may  well  be 
considered  one  of  the  founders,  as  he  was  the  second  to  erect  a residence 
in  the  village,  which  is  eligibly  located  on  the  line  of  the  Erie  Railroad. 
His  status  in  the  community  well  entitles  him  to  consideration  in  this 
history  of  Hardin  county. 

Lloyd  Id.  Clark  is  a native  of  the  old  Buckeye  state,  having  been 
born  on  a farm  in  Seneca  county,  Ohio,  on  the  30th  of  August,  1845, 
and  being  a son  of  Thomas  and  Mary  (Juda)  Clark.  The  father  was 
engaged  in  farming  in  Seneca  county  until  about  1853,  when  he  moved 
with  his  family  to  Hardin  county,  where  he  purchased  a farm  in  Marion 
township.  He  developed  the  property,  and  there  continued  to  be  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits  during  the  residue  of  his  active  career. 
He  passed  the  closing  years  of  his  life  in  the  village  of  Ada,  this  county. 

The  rudimentary  education  of  Mr.  Clark  was  secured  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  county  and  he  was  a lad  of  eight  years  at  the  time 
©f  the  family  removal  to  Hardin  county,  where  he  continued  to  attend 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


533 


school  at  irregular  intervals,  in  the  meanwhile  finding  demand  for  his 
services  in  connection  with  the  work  of  the  home  farm.  He  was  but 
sixteen  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war,  but 
his  youthful  patriotism  soon  found  definite  exemplification.  On  the 
4th  of  July,  1863,  before  he  had  attained  to  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  he 
enlisted  as  a private  in  Company  G,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-ninth 
Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  with  which  command  he  served  until  the  ex- 
piration of  his  term  of  ninety  days,  when  he  reenlisted  as  a veteran,  be- 
coming a member  of  Company  A,  One  Hundred  and  Eightieth  Ohio 
Volunteer  Infantry,  with  which  he  continued  in  active  service  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  He  took  part  in  a number  of  the  important  battles 
marking  the  progress  of  the  great  fratricidal  conflict,  besides  participat- 
ing in  innumerable  skirmishes.  He  was  mustered  out  in  1865,  and  duly 
received  his  honorable  discharge  after  his  return  to  his  native  state. 

After  the  close  of  the  great  conflict  through  which  the  integrity  of 
the  nation  was  perpetuated  Mr.  Clark  returned  to  Hardin  county  and 
rented  his  father’s  farm,  to  whose  operation  he  gave  his  attention  until 
moving  to  Michigan,  where  he  secured  a homestead  claim  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land.  He  reclaimed  much  of  the  land  to  cultivation 
and  made  other  improvements  on  the  property,  which  he  retained  in  his 
possession  for  a period  of  eight  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which  he  sold 
the  same  and  returned  to  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  where  he  again  rented 
his  father’s  farm.  On  this  old  homestead  he  continued  to  be  actively 
engaged  in  farming  and  stock-growing  for  the  ensuing  eight  years.  He 
then  became  one  of  the  first  to  establish  a home  in  the  present  village  of 
Alger,  where,  as  already  stated,  he  erected  the  second  house  to  be  built 
in  the  new  town.  He  took  up  his  residence  here  in  the  year  1883,  and 
for  a short  time  he  was  employed  by  the  Erie  Railroad  Company,  after 
which  he  conducted  a hotel  for  a time.  In  1884  Mr.  Clark  became  asso- 
ciated with  two  other  citizens  in  the  manufacturing  of  tile  at  Alger, 
beginning  operation  with  a capital  of  only  fifteen  hundred  dollars. 
Some  time  later  he  purchased  the  interests  of  his  partners,  and  eventually 
he  admitted  to  partnership  his  sons  C.  C.  and  IT.  G.  Clark.  Under  these 
auspices  the  enterprise  increased  rapidly  in  scope  and  importance,  and 
today  it  represents  the  principal  industrial  concern  of  Alger,  the  busi- 
ness being  conducted  according  to  progressive  policies  and  being  based 
on  ample  capitalistic  support  and  able  executive  management.  In  1899 
Mr.  Clark  left  this  business  in  charge  of  the  two  sons  mentioned  and  with 
his  other  sons  went  to  Virginia,  where  he  established  an  enterprise  of  the 
same  order.  He  remained  in  the  Old  Dominion  state  until  he  returned 
to  Alger  and  resumed  his  active  association  with  the  business  which  he 
had  previously  founded,  as  already  noted.  In  1902  a reorganization 
was  made  and  the  business  was  incorporated  under  the  laws  of  the  state. 
At  this  time  the  present  title,  the  Alger  Clay  Manufacturing  Company, 
was  adopted,  and  its  officers  are  as  here  noted:  Lloyd  H.  Clark,  presi- 

dent; C.  C.  Clark,  treasurer;  and  H.  G.  Clark,  secretary.  In  1902  the 
company  also  purchased  the  lumber  yard  and  business  of  Howard  Smith, 
and  this  enterprise  is  now  a department  of  its  large  and  substantial 
business.  The  company  manufacture  drain  tile  from  three  to  twenty 


534 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


inches  in  diameter,  and  also  hollow  blocks  and  common  brick.  They 
are  dealers  in  coal,  cement,  fire  brick,  lake  sand,  Fishack  plaster,  build- 
ers’ hardware,  handle  all  kinds  of  lumber  and  interior  finishings,  mill 
work  of  all  descriptions,  and  roofing  of  slate,  galvanized  iron,  asbestos 
and  rubber.  The  concern  controls  a large  and  widely  extended  trade 
and  the  volume  of  its  business  shows  a material  increase  each  successive 
year,  making  it  one  of  the  important  contributions  to  the  industrial 
prestige  of  Hardin  county.  The  president  of  the  company  is  also  a 
stockholder  in  the  Alger  Savings  Bank. 

Mr.  Clark  is  a staunch  Republican  in  his  political  proclivities  but 
has  had  no  desire  for  public  office  of  any  description.  He  is  an  enter- 
prising, reliable  and  straightforward  business  man  and  a loyal  citizen, 
thus  having  worthy  claim  to  the  unqualified  esteem  in  which  he  is  held 
in  the  community. 

The  two  sons  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark  are  C.  C.  Clark,  the  treasurer 
of  the  Alger  Clay  Manufacturing  Company  and  also  the  manager  of  the 
business,  and  his  younger  brother,  H.  G.,  the  secretary  of  the  company. 
Emma,  the  only  surviving  daughter  of  the  subject  of  this  review,  is  now 
the  wife  of  Frederick  Montville. 

C.  C.  Clark,  treasurer  and  manager  of  the  Alger  Clay  Manufactur- 
ing Company,  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  representative  business  men  of 
Hardin  county  and  he  is  a factor  of  distinctive  influence  in  connection 
with  public  affairs  of  a local  order,  being  at  the  present  time  the  able 
and  popular  treasurer  of  Marion  township,  to  which  he  was  chosen  as 
his  own  successor  in  his  second  election,  so  that  he  is  now  serving  his 
second  term.  He  was  born  on  his  father’s  farm  in  Michigan  on  the  15th 
of  February,  1871,  but  was  reared  to  manhood  in  Hardin  county,  where 
he  was  afforded  the  advantages  of  the  public  schools.  He  has  shown 
marked  initiative  and  administrative  ability  both  as  a business  man  and 
public  official,  and  no  further  evidence  of  his  personal  popularity  in  the 
community  is  demanded  than  that  implied  in  his  having  been  chosen  to 
his  present  township  office.  He  is  a staunch  advocate  of  the  principles 
and  policies  for  which  the  Republican  party  stands  sponsor,  and  he  has 
given  effective  service  in  the  promotion  of  its  cause  in  a local  way,  being 
at  the  present  time  representative  of  Marion  township  in  the  Hardin 
county  Republican  central  committee.  He  takes  a loyal  and  insistent 
interest  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  well  being  of  his  home  village,  town- 
ship and  county,  and  in  addition  to  the  official  incumbency  already 
mentioned  he  is  also  treasurer  of  the  Alger  union  school  district.  He 
and  his  wife  are  valued  and  zealous  members  of  the  Alger  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  and  he  is  a member  of  its  board  of  trustees.  In  a 
fraternal  way  he  is  affiliated  with  Golden  Shield  Lodge,  No.  757,  Knights 
of  Pythias. 

C.  C.  Clark  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Nettie  Austin,  a daugh- 
ter of  Martin  Austin.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark  have  one  daughter,  Ruth, 
who  was  born  on  the  12th  of  July,  1893,  and  who  is  a member  of  the  class 
of  1911  in  the  Alger  high  school,  being  one  of  the  popular  young  ladies 
in  connection  with  the  social  activities  of  the  community. 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


535 


Elmer  J.  Carey. — Endowed  by  nature  with  the  talents  and  gifts 
that  win  success  in  the  business  world  and  command  the  respect  of  his 
fellow  associates,  Elmer  J.  Carey,  of  Ada,  has  always  identified  himself 
with  the  leading  interests  of  this  part  of  Hardin  county,  and  has  proved 
himself  a valuable  and  worthy  citizen.  He  is  a man  of  financial 
ability,  and  is  now  serving  as  cashier  of  Liberty  Bank  and  as  county 
auditor.  He  was  born,  June  3,  1870,  in  Liberty  township,  a son  of 
Samuel  Carey.  A native  of  Perry  county,  Ohio,  Samuel  Carey  was 
there  brought  up  and  educated.  Coming  to  Hardin  county  in  1857, 
he  began  farming  in  Liberty  township,  subsequently  removing  to  Wash- 
ington township,  Hardin  county.  He  married  Rachel  Heim,  a native 
of  Perry  county,  Ohio,  and  of  the  children  born  of  their  union  three 
sons  and  two  daughters  are  now  living,  Elmer  J.,  the  special  subject  of 
this  sketch,  being  the  fourth  child. 

Attending  as  a boy  the  district  schools  of  Liberty  and  Washington 
townships,  Elmer  J.  Carey  completed  his  early  education  at  the  Ohio 
Northern  University  in  Ada.  When  in  1902  the  Liberty  Bank  was 
organized,  Mr.  Carey  was  made  assistant  cashier,  and  in  that  capacity 
proved  himself  so  capable  and  trustworthy  that  four  years  later,  in 
1906,  he  was  elected  cashier  of  the  institution,  a position  that  he  has 
since  retained.  Active  in  public  affairs,  he  stands  high  in  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  has  served  in  various  official  capacities,  having  been 
city  clerk  of  Ada,  and  in  1908  was  elected  to  his  present  position  as 
county  auditor.  He  is  a stockholder  in  the  Liberty  Bank  and  one  of 
its  directors,  and  is  also  the  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Ohio  Northern 
University. 

Mr.  Carey  married,  June  18,  1902,  Dora  Pfeiffer,  daughter  of  George 
and  Mary  Pfeiffer,  of  Kenton,  Ohio,  and  they  have  one  son,  Donald  V. 
Carey.  Fraternally  Mr.  Carey  is  a member  of  the  Ancient  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons ; of  the  Knights  of  Pythias ; and  of  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks. 

J.  P.  Naus,  a retired  farmer  living  in  Forest,  was  born  in  Richland 
county,  Ohio,  October  6,  1841,  and  is  a son  of  Jacob  and  Nancy  (Picker- 
ing) Naus,  both  natives  of  Bedford  county,  Pennsylvania.  Jacob  Naus 
and  his  wife  came  to  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  in  1847,  among  the  first 
settlers,  and  they  became  prominent  citizens.  Nancy  Pickering’s  uncle 
served  as  secretary  of  war  in  1791  and  as  lieutenant  general  in  1795. 
Jacob  Naus  followed  his  trade  of  shoemaker  most  of  his  life;  in  1834  he 
moved  to  Richland  county  and  lived  there  until  1841.  In  1843  he 
bought  forty  acres  of  land,  but  continued  to  work  at  his  trade,  and  in 
1847  located  in  Hardin  county,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  He  had  six  children,  namely:  Joshua,  D.  A.,  Amanda  (Mrs. 

Gilpin),  William  (deceased)  and  Washington.  William  served  in  the 
Civil  war  for  one  year  as  private  in  a company  of  the  Ninety-second 
Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  it  being  part  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

J.  P.  Nans  was  reared  and  educated  in  Hardin  county,  and  has 
spent  most  of  his  life  in  agricultural  pursuits.  Soon  after  the  breaking 
out  of  the  Civil  war  he  volunteered,  August  21,  1862,  as  a private  in 


536 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Company  H,  One  Hundred  and  Eighteenth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry, 
Colonel  Samuel  Mott  commanding.  This  regiment  was  assigned  to  the 
Second  Brigade,  Second  Division,  Twenty-third  Corps,  Army  of  the 
Ohio.  Mr.  Nans  participated  with  his  regiment  in  many  important 
engagements,  among  them:  Paris  (Kentucky),  Kingston,  Mossey  Creek. 

Rocky  Face  Ridge,  Resaca,  Dallas,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  siege  of  Atlanta, 
Waynesboro,  Columbia,  Spring  Hill,  Franklin,  Nashville,  Fort  Ander- 
son, Town  Creek,  Wilmington,  Kingston  (North  Carolina),  Goldsboro 
(North  Carolina),  besides  many  minor  engagements.  On  May  14,  1864, 
Mr.  Naus  was  wounded  in  the  left  thigh  at  the  battle  of  Resaca,  Georgia, 
and  was  prostrated  by  a shot  at,  the  battle  of  Nashville,  Tennessee.  He 
was  detached  on  various  duties  at  different  times,  and  had  many  hazard- 
ous and  narrow  escapes.  He  was  recognized  as  a brave  man,  who 
would  not  shirk  in  his  duty,  no  matter  where  it  might  lead  him.  On 
June  6,  1865,  he  was  honorably  discharged  on  account  of  disability. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Naus  returned  and  took  up  farming 
again,  and  became  a successful  farmer.  He  is  a public-spirited  citizen 
and  stands  well  with  his  neighbors  and  fellows.  He  belongs  to  Stanley 
Post,  No.  283,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  both  he  and  his  wife 
are  earnest  members  of  the  Baptist  church  at  Forest. 

Mr.  Naus  married,  February  15,  1866,  Mary  A.  Ketch,  who  was  born 
in  Jackson  township,  Hardin  county,  in  1841 ; she  is  a daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Mary  Ketch,  residents  of  Columbia  county,  Ohio.  They 
both  came  to  Ohio  from  Pennsylvania  in  1835,  in  their  youth,  and  they 
were  married  in  1841;  their  children  were:  George,  John,  Joel,  Sarah, 

Ames  and  Mary,  all  of  whom  survive.  Mr.  Naus  and  his  wife  became 

the  parents  of  children  as  follows:  Alva  T.,  William,  Sarah  A. 

(deceased),  Mary  E.,  Cora  M.,  Flora  E.,  Martha  B.,  Arnetta  Z.  (de- 
ceased), Lillian  D.  and  John  A.  (deceased). 

Lewis  C.  Ankerman. — This  well  known  citizen  and  sterling  busi- 
ness man  of  the  village  of  Alger,  of  whose  first  common  council  he  was 
a member,  is  to  be  designated  as  one  of  the  world’s  gallant  army  of  pro- 
ductive workers,  and  he  has  achieved  a worthy  success  through  his  own 
well  directed  efforts.  He  owns  and  conducts  a well  equipped  black- 
smith and  general  repair  shop  in  Alger  and  has  other  local  interests  of 
important  order. 

Mr.  Ankerman  is  a native  of  the  old  Buckeye  state,  having  been 
born  on  the  parental  farmstead  in  Miami  county,  Ohio,  on  the  2d  of 
December,  1868,  and  being  a son  of  Christ  and  Mary  (Stein)  Ankerman, 
both  of  whom  were  born  in  Germany,  whence  they  came  to  America 
when  young,  their  marriage  having  been  solemnized  in  Miami  county, 
Ohio,  where  they  still  maintain  their  home  and  where  the  father  has 
long  been  known  as  a successful  farmer  and  sterling  citizen.  Of  their 
eight  children,  four  sons  and  three  daughters  are  now  living. 

The  initial  experiences  of  Lewis  C.  Ankerman  in  connection  with 
the  practical  duties  and  responsibilities  of  life  were  those  gained  through 
his  early  association  with  the  work  of  the  home  farm,  where  he  was 
reared  to  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  in  the  meanwhile  having  duly  availed 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


537 


himself  of  the  advantages  of  the  district  school  near  the  old  homestead. 
At  the  age  noted  he  went  to  Wapakoneta,  Ohio,  where  he  served  an 
apprenticeship  to  the  blacksmith  trade,  in  a shop  conducted  by  his  elder 
brother.  William,  with  whom  he  thus  remained  for  a period  of  four  years, 
within  which  he  became  a skilled  workman  in  both  iron  and  wood.  At 
the  expiration  of  the  period  noted  Mr.  Ankerman  went  to  the  city  of 
Toledo,  where  he  was  employed  at  his  trade  for  somewhat  more  than 
one  year.  Returning  to  Wapakoneta,  he  was  there  employed  about  six 
months,  and  on  the  1st  of  -June,  1891.  he  established  his  residence  in  the 
newly  founded  village  of  Alger,  Hardin  county,  where  he  rented  a 
blacksmith  shop  and  engaged  independently  in  the  work  of  his  trade. 
Three  months  later  he  purchased  the  building  and  its  equipment,  and 
there  he  has  continued  business  up  to  the  present  time.  He  enlarged 
and  otherwise  improved  his  shop,  and  which  is  now  equipped  for  the 
handling  of  all  kinds  of  blacksmith  and  general  repair  work  in  both 
wood  and  iron,  a specialty  being  made  of  the  repairing  of  wagons, 
carriages  and  other  vehicles,  as  well  as  farming  machinery  and  imple- 
ments. Mr.  Ankerman  owns  five  lots  in  the  village, — three  of  these 
being  the  land  on  which  his  shop  is  located  and  the  other  two  being  his 
residence  property.  He  is  a stockholder  in  the  Alger  Savings  Bank 
and  also  in  the  J.  W.  Kirts  Company,  organized  with  a capital  stock  of 
thirty  thousand  dollars,  for  dealing  in  general  merchandise. 

In  politics  Mr.  Ankerman  is  aligned  as  a stanch  supporter  of  the 
cause  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  after  the  incorporation  of  Alger  he 
was  elected  a member  of  its  first  village  council,  holding  this  office  for 
four  years.  He  is  a member  of  Ada  Lodge,  No.  344,  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  at  Ada,  this  county,  and  in  his  home  village  he  is  affiliated  with 
Golden  Shield  Lodge,  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  with  Tent  No.  479, 
Knights  of  the  Maccabees. 

On  the  2d  of  September,  1891,  Mr.  Ankerman  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Jennie  Huffman,  who  was  born  at  Coldwater,  Mercer  county 
Ohio,  and  they  have  four  children.  Their  names  and  respective  dates 
of  birth  are  here  indicated:  Frederick.  July  2,  1892;  Margaret,  July 

25,  1895;  Raymond,  November  1,  1896;  and  Mildred,  April  7,  1899. 
Frederick  is  now  (1910)  attending  a business  college  at  Lima,  Ohio. 

Alexander  G.  Tidd. — This  representative  farmer  and  honored  pio- 
neer citizen  of  Hardin  county,  which  has  been  his  home  from  the  time  of 
his  nativity  to  the  present,  is  a scion  of  a family  that  was  founded  in  the 
county  more  than  eighty  years  ago.  He  has  gained  success  and  inde- 
pendence through  hard  work  in  earlier  years  and  later  through  effective 
management  of  the  forces  at  his  command.  He  is  one  of  the  substantial 
landowners  of  the  county  and  is  a citizen  to  whom  is  accorded  the  most 
unreserved  confidence  and  esteem  in  the  community.  It  was  his  to 
represent  his  county  as  a valiant  soldier  of  the  Union  in  the  Civil  war, 
and  in  the  “piping  times  of  peace”  he  has  shown  the  same  loyalty  that 
led  him  to  go  forth  to  defend  the  integrity  of  the  nation  when  it  was 
menaced  by  armed  rebellion.  His  landed  estate,  comprising  four 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  productive  land,  is  situated  in  Marion  and 
Roundhead  townships,  in  the  former  of  which  his  residence  is  located. 


538 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Alexander  G.  Tidd  was  born  on  a pioneer  farm  in  section  twenty- 
one,  Roundhead  township,  this  county,  on  the  24th  of  April,  1838,  and  is 
a son  of  Hugh  H.  and  Mary  (Givins)  Tidd,  both  likewise  natives  of 
Ohio.  Hugh  H.  Tidd  was  born  in  Logan  county,  this  state,  and  was  a 
son  of  Samuel  Tidd,  who  came  to  Ohio  from  Pennsylvania  and  who  took 
up  his  residence  in  Roundhead  township,  Hardin  county,  in  1820,  having 
moved  hither  from  Logan  county.  He  settled  on  the  northeast  quarter 
of  section  twenty-one,  Roundhead  township,  and  with  the  assistance  of 
his  sons  he  reclaimed  much  of  the  land  from  the  forest  before  he  was 
summoned  from  the  scene  of  life’s  mortal  endeavors.  His  son  Hugh 
H.,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  review,  became  owner  of  the  old  home- 
stead, which  continued  to  be  his  place  of  abode  until  his  death,  when  he 
was  about  sixty-four  years  of  age.  He  was  twice  married,  and  of  his  six- 
teen children,  nine  of  whom  were  born  of  the  first  and  seven  of  the  second 
marriage,  seven  are  now  living. 

Alexander  G.  Tidd  was  reared  amid  the  scenes  and  conditions  of  the 
pioneer  days  in  Hardin  county, — a period  necessarily  marked  by  many 
hardships  and  privations  as  well  as  by  the  most  arduous  toil  on  the  part 
of  the  settlers  who  were  bending  their  efforts  to  reclaiming  the  heavily 
timbered  land.  He  assisted  in  the  work  of  the  home  farm  until  he 
was  twenty-two  years  of  age,  and  his  early  educational  advantages  were 
very  meager,  being  confined  to  a desultory  attendance  in  the  primitive 
district  or  subscriptions  schools.  In  1860  he  was  married,  and  he  and 
his  bride  began  life  on  a rented  farm,  without  financial  resources  of 
any  kind  and  dependent  entirely  upon  their  own  exertions.  They 
were,  however,  well  ecpiipped  with  courage,  ambition  and  mutual  love 
and  sympathy,  and  with  the  passing  of  the  years  they  were  not  denied 
a generous  measure  of  prosperity  and  happiness.  Mr.  Tidd  finally 
bought  a small  tract  of  land  in  Roundhead  township,  and  both  he  and 
his  wife  labored  without  ceasing  to  bring  the  same  to  compensating 
productiveness.  As  he  prospered  in  his  efforts  he  added  to  his  landed 
possessions  from  time  to  time,  and,  as  already  noted,  he  is  now  the  owner 
of  one  of  the  valuable  farm  properties  of  his  native  county. 

In  September,  1864,  Mr.  Tidd  tendered  his  services  in  defense  of 
the  Union.  He  enlisted  in  Company  H,  one  Hundred  and  Eigthy- 
third  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  which  was  assigned  to  the  Twenty-Third 
Corps  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  with  which  he  participated  in 
the  various  engagements  in  which  the  command  was  involved,  including 
the  battles  of  Franklin  and  Nashville.  He  continued  with  his  regiment 
until  the  close  of  the  war,  being  mustered  out  on  the  17th  of  July,  1865, 
and  duly  receiving  his  honorable  discharge.  Mr.  Tidd  retains  a deep 
interest  in  his  old  comrades  in  arms  and  signifies  the  same  by  his  mem- 
bership in  the  Hatfield  Post,  No.  420,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  at 
Roundhead,  of  which  veteran  organization  he  was  formerly  chaplain. 

In  politics  Mr.  Tidd  is  arrayed  as  a stanch  supporter  of  the  cause 
of  the  Republican  party,  and  while  a resident  of  McDonald  township 
he  served  as  a member  of  its  board  of  trustees  for  two  terms.  He  was 
a trustee  of  Roundhead  township  for  one  term  and  for  six  years  was  a 
member  of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  county  infirmary.  In  addi- 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


539 


tion  to  bis  farm  property  he  is  also  the  owner  of  improved  real  estate 
in  the  village  of  Anger,  and  he  is  also  a stockholder  in  the  Alger  Savings 
Bank.  In  that  village  he  and  his  wife  are  zealous  and  valued  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

On  the  20th  of  September,  1860,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Tidcl  to  Miss  Margaret  McElhany,  who  was  born  in  Marion  town- 
ship, this  county,  on  the  14th  of  April,  1838,  and  who  was  reared  on 
the  farm  of  her  father,  Isaac  McElhany,  a worthy  pioneer  of  this  county. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tide!  have  been  born  four  children,  concerning  whom 
the  following  brief  record  is  given  in  conclusion  of  this  sketch : Arilla  E. 
died  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years ; Frank,  who  died  at  the  age  of  thirty 
years,  in  1905,  married  Miss  Leota  Poe,  who  survives  him  and  resides 
in  Marion  township,  and  has  one  son,  Wilbur ; Albert,  who  was  born 
August  16,  1876,  and  who  married  Miss  Mary  Irwin,  is  a representative 
farmer  of  Marion  township  and  they  have  two  children.  Mary  E.  and 
Blanche  E. ; and  Hallister  S.,  who  was  born  October  17,  1881,  is  simi- 
larly engaged  in  Roundhead  township.  He  married  Myrtle  Davis,  and 
their  two  children  are  Helen  R.  and  Margaret  I.  Mrs.  Tidd  died 
suddenly  March  28,  1910. 

James  M.  Hively. — Among  the  successful  farmers  of  Cessna  town- 
ship. Hardin  county,  Ohio,  none  is  more  prominent  than  James  M. 
Hively,  a native  of  the  township,  born  November  22,  1863,  a son  of 
David  and  Rebecca  (Mathews)  Hively.  David  Hively  was  born  in 
Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  and  there  grew  to  manhood.  He  located  in 
Hardin  county  before  his  marriage,  moved  several  times,  and  finally 
bought  the  Mathews  farm,  which  had  been  entered  by  the  Mathews 
family  about  1835,  and  here  Mr.  Hively  and  his  wife  spent  the  remainder 
of  their  lives.  He  and  his  wife  were  devout  and  earnest  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  had  the  highest  respect  of  all  who 
knew  them.  They  had  nine  children,  four  sons  and  five  daughters,  all 
now  deceased 'but  two,  Mrs.  H.  J.  Huggett,  of  Huntersville,  Ohio,  and 
James. 

James  M,  Hively  was  born  on  the  farm  where  he  now  lives  and 
was  educated  in  the  district  school,  attending  school  winters  and  helping 
with  the  work  of  the  farm  through  the  summers.  When  about  twenty 
years  of  age  he  entered  Ada  College  and  spent  two  terms  there.  He 
then  turned  his  undivided  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits,  in  which 
he  has  taken  great  pleasure  and  reaped  a good  profit.  He  has  made 
a careful  study  of  scientific  farming  and  has  become  very  proficient  in 
this  line.  He  deals  extensively  in  stock,  buying  cattle  to  feed  and  ship. 
For  the  past  ten  years  Mr.  Hively  has  grown  alfalfa  quite  extensively, 
and  in  this  line  he  has  also  met  with  gratifying  success.  He  carries 
on  his  work  in  an  able  manner,  making  a careful  study  of  rotation  of 
crops  and  all  other  subjects  which  affect  the  fertility  and  productiveness 
of  his  land.  He  is  a great  admirer  of  fine  stock  and  is  a good  judge 
of  the  same. 

Mr.  Hively  is  one  ol  the  progressive  and  enterprising  farmers  of 
Cessna  township,  where  he  owns  three  hundred  and  seventy  acres  of 


540 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


land  in  a fine  state  of  cultivation.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
Pleasant  Hill  Grange,  and  belong  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
of  Huntersville,  of  which  he  is  a steward.  Politically  he  is  one  of 
the  stalwart  Republicans  of  Hardin  county,  and  takes  an  active  interest 
in  public  affairs.  He  and  his  wife  are  well  known  in  the  community, 
where  they  are  well  liked  and  exceedingly  popular  with  all. 

In  1892  Mr.  Hively  married  Hattie  A.  Cessna,  daughter  of  J.  D. 
and  Eliza  A.  Cessna,  and  who  was  born  in  the  township,  where  she  was 
reared  and  educated,  attending  the  district  school.  She  has  spent  her 
entire  life  on  the  farm,  and  takes  an  intelligent  interest  in  everything 
that  goes  on  in  her  home.  She  is  one  of  the  highest  type  of  farmer’s 
wives,  always  ready  to  give  her  assistance  where  possible.  They  are  the 
parents  of  three  children : John  D.,  Carrie  A.,  and  Wilber  J. 

Eurotis  S.  Neeley. — The  career  of  this  honored  citizen  of  Hardin 
county  stands  in  patent  exemplification  of  what  may  be  accomplished  by 
one  who  is  endowed  with  such  determination,  ambition  and  energy  that 
he  can  hurl  back  impotent  the  “slings  and  arrows  of  outrageous  fortune” 
and  through  his  own  efforts  rise  superior  to  circumstances  and  bend  fate 
to  his  will.  Judge  Neeley  initiated  his  independent  career  when  a mere 
boy ; his  educational  advantages  has  been  most  meager ; he  had  no 
fortuitous  aid  of  any  kind, — and  yet  in  the  face  of  this  he  gained  a 
liberal  education,  became  a successful  educator,  and  finally  was  called 
upon  to  serve  in  the  important  office  of  judge  of  the  probate  court  of 
Hardin  county.  The  tangible  evidence  of  the  material  success  which 
he  has  gained  is  that  given  by  his  ownership  of  one  of  the  fine  farms  of 
Marion  township,  this  county,  where  he  is  now  living  the  generous  and 
independent  life  of  the  husbandman  and  finds  that  his  “lines  are  cast 
in  pleasant  places.”  In  offering  record  concerning  such  worthy  and 
honored  citizens  this  publication  exercises  one  of  its  most  important 
functions. 

Eurotis  S.  Neeley  was  born  on  a farm  in  Berlin  township,  Knox 
county,  Ohio,  on  the  7th  of  July,  1862,  and  is  a scion  of  one  of  the  sterl- 
ing pioneer  families  of  the  old  Buckeye  state.  His  father,  the  late 
William  Neeley,  was  born  in  Holmes  county,  this  state,  from  whence  he 
eventually  moved  to  Knox  county,  where  was  solemnized  his  marriage  to 
Miss  Rebecca  J.  Durbin,  daughter  of  John  Durbin,  who  was  a native  of 
Pennsylvania,  of  German  lineage,  and  who  early  settled  in  Knox  county, 
Ohio,  where  the  mother  of  Judge  Neeley  was  born  and  reared.  In  1862 
William  Neeley  moved  with  his  family  to  Hardin  county  and  located  in 
Marion  township,  where  he  became  the  owner  of  a farm,  to  whose  culti- 
vation he  gave  his  attention  during  the  residue  of  his  active  career. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  died  in  this  county,  the  former  having  passed  away 
in  1879  and  the  latter  in  1901. 

Judge  Neeley  wms  but  four  weeks  old  at  the  time  of  the  family  re- 
moval to  Hardin  county,  and  he  passed  his  boyhood  days  on  the  home 
farm,  beginning  to  give  the  major  part  of  his  time  to  its  work  while  still 
a mere  boy  and  being  enabled  to  attend  the  district  school  only  until  he 
was  eleven  years  of  age, — and  that  during  the  winter  terms  only.  There- 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


541 


after  he  gave  all  of  his  time  to  the  work  of  the  farm  until  he  was  sixteen 
years  of  age,  when  his  mother  died  and  he  set  forth  to  face  the  battle  of 
life  on  his  own  responsibility.  He  went  to  Wells  county,  Indiana,  and 
here  he  earned  his  first  dollar  by  strenuous  work  of  cutting  timber.  He 
thereafter  continued  to  devote  his  summers  to  farm  work  and  his  winters 
to  attending  school  until  he  had  made  sufficient  advancement  in  his 
studies  to  become  eligible  for  pedagogic  honors.  He  remained  in  Wells 
county,  Indiana,  about  two  years  and  thereafter  worked  and  attended 
school  at  various  places  in  Ohio  until  1883,  when  he  secured  his  first 
position  as  a teacher,  in  a district  school  in  Allen  county.  In  the 
meanwhile  he  so  carefully  conserved  his  resources  that  he  wTas  finally 
able  to  complete  a course  in  the  Ohio  Northern  University  at  Ada, 
Hardin  county,  in  which  institution  he  was  graduated  as  a member  of 
the  class  of  1898,  and  from  which  he  received  his  well  earned  degree 
of  Bachelor  of  Science.  He  was  engaged  in  educational  work,  with 
unvarying  success,  for  a total  of  fifty-seven  terms,  and  his  career  as  a 
teacher  thus  covered  a period  of  about  twenty  years,  during  the  last 
eight  of  which  he  was  principal  of  the  Central  school  of  Kenton,  the 
county-seat  of  Hardin  county.  When  thirty-two  years  of  age  he  re- 
ceived a life  certificate  as  a teacher  in  Ohio. 

In  1902,  while  still  a teacher  in  the  Kenton  schools,  Judge  Neeley 
was  elected  to  the  office  of  judge  of  the  probate  court  of  Hardin  county, 
being  the  candidate  on  the  Republican  ticket  and  receiving  a majority 
of  ninety-eight  votes.  Three  years  later,  at  the  expiration  of  his  first 
term,  he  was  re-elected,  and  the  manifestation  of  popular  approval  of 
his  administration  was  made  most  significant  at  this  time,  as  he  was 
re-elected  by  the  gratifying  majority  of  eight  hundred  and  two  votes. 
He  served  as  judge  of  probate  for  six  years,  retiring  from  office  on  the 
9th  of  February,  1909.  and  in  April,  1909,  he  removed  to  his  farm  in 
Marion  township,  where  he  has  since  continued  to  devote  his  attention 
to  the  great  basic  industries  of  agriculture  and  stock-growing  and  where 
he  is  carrying  forward  his  operations  with  marked  enterprise  and  dis- 
crimination, availing  himself  of  the  practical  experience  of  earlier  years 
as  well  as  of  his  admirable  intellectual  powers,  which  here  come  into 
effective  play,  even  as  they  would  in  other  lines  of  business  enterprise. 
The  homestead  farm,  improved  with  substantial  buildings  and  equipped 
with  modern  machinery  and  implements,  comprises  one  hundred  and 
seventy-one  acres  of  land,  and  the  Judge  gives  his  personal  supervision 
to  all  details  of  operation.  Incidentally  it  may  also  be  stated  that  the 
attractive  home  is  a center  of  gracious  and  refined  hospitality,  and  that 
it  is  a favored  rendezvous  for  the  wide  circle  of  friends  that  Judge 
Neeley  and  his  family  claim  as  their  own. 

In  politics  Judge  Neeley  is  admirably  fortified  in  his  convictions 
and  gives  an  unyielding  adherence  to  the  Republican  party,  in  whose 
cause  he  has  given  effective  service.  He  was  one  of  the  staunch 
supporters  of  the  local  option  movement  which  reached  so  favorable 
culmination  in  Hardin  county,  and  was  chairman  of  the  local  option 
leagues  of  the  county.  He  is  an  appreciative  member  of  the  time-honored 
Masonic  fraternity,  in  which  his  affiliations  are  with  Latham  Lodge,  No. 

Vol.  II— 7 


542 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


154,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons ; with  the  Chapter,  Royal  Arch  Masons ; 
with  the  Council,  Royal  and  Select  Masters  and  with  Commandery, 
Knights  Templars, — all  of  which  organizations  are  established  in  Kenton, 
this  county.  He  is  also  identified  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  and  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  and  both  he  and  his 
wife  are  zealous  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

On  the  21st  of  June,  1891,  Judge  Neeley  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Byrd  Turner,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  Hardin  county  and 
who  is  a.  daughter  of  the  late  Lee  Turner,  a representative  and  honored 
citizen  of  this  section  of  the  state.  Judge  and  Mrs.  Neeley  became  the 
parents  of  seven  children,  of  whom  five  are  living,  their  names,  with 
respective  dates  of  birth,  being  here  noted.  Lois,  August  11,  1894 ; Helen, 
January  17,  1900;  Samuel  W.,  June  4,  1901;  Eurotis  P.,  August  9,  1903; 
and  James  L.,  June  18,  1905.  Richard  K.  was  born  June  21,  1908,  and 
died  on  the  19t,h  of  August,  1909,  and  John  Howard,  who  was  born  on 
October  20,  1909,  died  on  the  25th  of  October,  following. 

Richmond  Johnson,  formerly  a prosperous  farmer  but  now  retired 
from  active  life,  resides  in  Forest.  He  was  born  in  Richmond,  New 
York,  in  1828,  and  is  a son  of  Michael  and  Permelia  (Standish)  Johnson, 
both  natives  of  New  York  state.  The  parents  were  married  in  New 
York  and  later  moved  to  Hancock  county,  Ohio.  Michael  Johnson  was 
a tailor  by  trade,  and  had  children  as  follows:  Emily,  Sarah  (deceased), 
Horace  (deceased),  and  Richmond.  The  only  two  surviving  are 
Richmond  and  Emily.  Horace  served  in  the  Civil  war,  in  the  Eighty- 
second  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry;  he  was  wounded  and  made  a prisoner 
of  war,  and  never  recovered  from  its  effects. 

Richmond  Johnson  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  county;  he  was  reared  on  a farm  and  has  spent  most  of  his 
life  in  agricultural  pursuits,  in  which  he  has  been  more  than  ordinarily 
successful.  He  moved  with  his  parents  to  Hancock  county,  Ohio,  in 
1839,  and  by  his  industry  and  close  attention  to  his  financial  interests 
he  was  able  to  purchase  one  farm  after  another  until  he  was  possessed  of 
three  hundred  acres  of  land,  and  besides  had  a good  bank  account. 
Besides  his  holdings  in  Hancock  county  he  now  owns  twenty  acres  in 
Forest,  where  he  resides.  He  is  highly  esteemed  by  his  fellow  citizens, 
and  has  been  honored  with  some  township  offices.  Mr.  Johnson  is  a 
devout  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He  is  a public- 
spirited  citizen,  and  actively  interested  in  public  affairs. 

Mr.  Johnson  has  been  twice  married,  first,  in  1863,  to  Amanda 
Burrell,  by  whom  he  had  five  children,  two  of  whom  survive,  namely: 
William  and  John.  In  1878  Mr.  Johnson  married  Sarah  Spencer,  who 
was  born  in  Richland  county,  Ohio,  in  1846 ; to  this  union  were  born 
children  as  follows:  Adclie,  wife  of  D.  Conover;  Ethel,  Mrs.  R.  Thomp- 
son ; Harlow  and  Clifford.  Mr.  Johnson  has  had  eleven  grandchildren. 
He  uses  his  influence  for  all  good  causes,  and  is  a usefid  member  of 
society. 

John  F.  IIighslip. — Among  the  representative  citizens  of  Cessna 
township  is  numbered  John  F.  Highslip,  who  was  born  within  the 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


543 


borders  of  the  township  on  the  11th  of  January,  1858,  a son  of  Andrew 
and  Sarah  A.  (Lee)  Highslip,  the  father  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  the  mother  in  London,  England.  They  were  married  in 
Cessna  township  of  Hardin  county,  and  of  the  seven  children  which 
blessed  their  marriage  union  only  a son  and  daughter  are  now  living,  the 
latter,  Phoebe  J.,  being  the  wife  of  John  Sharf. 

John  F.  Highslip,  the  only  living  son,  was  reared  in  his  native 
township  of  Cessna,  receiving  his  educational  training  in  its  district 
schools,  and  in  his  later  life  he  has  become  one  of  its  most  influential 
and  best  known  business  men.  He  owns  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  land  within  the  township,  and  is  extensively  engaged  in  the  breeding 
of  Rambouillet  sheep.  His  sheep  have  won  many  premiums  at  the  state 
fairs  and  at  other  exhibits,  and  he  is  a member  of  the  Sheep  Breeders 
Association.  During  1886  and  1887  Mr.  Highslip  served  in  the  capacity 
of  a fireman  on  the  Erie  railroad,  but  aside  from  this  his  energies  have 
been  mostly  directed  toward  his  farming  and  stock  raising.  He  is  one 
of  the  active  workers  in  the  local  ranks  of  the  Democratic  party  and  is  a 
member  of  the  present  board  of  trustees  of  Cessna  township. 

On  the  29th  of  September.  1880,  Mr.  Highslip  was  married  to 
Martha  A.  Jackson,  a native  daughter  of  Cessna  township,  born  on  the 
7th  of  April.  1857,  and  they  have  become  the  parents  of  five  children: 
Elva,  born  September  6,  1881,  and  now  the  wife  of  Clarence  Steiner ; 
Carv  H.,  deceased;  Goldie  B.,  born  March  3,  1888,  the  wife  of  Earl 
Bowman;  William  R.,  born  January  15,  1892;  and  Corolena  E.,  born 
April  9,  1897.  Mrs.  Highslip  belongs  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
at  Huntersville.  Mr.  Highslip  finds  his  chief  recreation  from  business 
in  hunting,  and  has  several  fine  specimens  of  deer  wdiich  he  has  killed 
in  the  forests  of  Michigan. 

William  W.  Runser,  attorney  at  law  and  general  manager  of  the 
Water,  Heat  & Light  Company  at  Ada,  Ohio,  occupies  a place  among 
the  leading  citizens  of  the  town.  He  was  born  in  Marion  township, 
Hardin  county,  Ohio,  March  4.  1870,  son  of  Charles  W.  and  Martha  M. 
(Lawrence)  Runser,  the  former  a native  of  Massillon,  Stark  county, 
Ohio, mud  the  latter,  of  Pennsylvania.  Charles  W.  Runser  when  a boy 
came  with  his  parents,  Andrew  and  Isabel  Runser,  to  Hardin  county 
and  settled  on  a farm  in  Marion  township,  his  father  being  the  second 
owner  of  this  land  after  it  passed  out  of  the  hands  of  the  government. 
Here  Charles  W.  spent  his  boyhood  days  and  grew  to  manhood,  assisting 
his  father  in  clearing  and  cultivating  their  pioneer  farm.  The  Lawrence 
family  came  from  Pennsylvania  to  Ohio  in  the  early  history  of  the  state 
and  settled  in  Hardin  county,  where  they  lived  for  several  years  and 
from  whence  they  subsequently  moved  to  Champaign  county.  Illinois. 
It  was  in  Champaign  county  that  Charles  W.  Runser  and  Martha  M. 
Lawrence  were  married.  The  same  year  they  were  married  they 
returned  to  Ohio  and  settled  on  a farm  in  Marion  township,  Hardin 
county,  where  they  are  still  living.  They  have  five  sons,  all  of  Hardin 
county,  namely:  Clarence  D.  and  William,  of  Ada;  Charles  C.,  of 

Marion  township ; and  Roseoe  A.  and  Franklin  J.,  of  Liberty  township. 


544 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


William  W.  Runser  was  reared  at  the  old  homestead  and  received 
his  early  training  at  Rising  Sun  school  in  Marion  township.  Later  he 
entered  the  Ohio  Northern  University  at  Ada,  where  he  graduated  in 
the  classical  course  in  1897,  and  in  the  law  department  in  1898.  In 
October  of  the  last  named  year  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  from 
that  time  until  July,  1904,  he  was  a teacher  in  the  department  from 
which  he  had  just  graduated.  After  teaching  for  six  years  he  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  law,  in  which  he  has  since  been  occupied  in  connection 
with  other  business.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Ada  Water, 
Heat  & Light  Company,  and  is  now  its  secretary  and  general  manager. 
Also  he  is  interested  in  a building  and  loan  business. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Runser  is  identified  with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America  and  with  the  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  having  membership  in 
the  lodge  and  chapter  at  Ada  and  in  the  commandery  at  Lima. 

Judson  A.  Rarey. — Energetic  and  enterprising,  Judson  A.  Rarey  is 
extensively  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in  Hardin  county,  his 
home  farm  in  Pleasant  township  being  one  of  the  best  managed  and  finest 
improved  of  any  in  the  neighborhood,  the  estate  having  an  air  of  pros- 
perity that  invariably  attracts  the  attention  of  the  passer-by,  and  gives 
evidence  of  the  excellent  judgment  he  displays  in  his  operations.  A 
son  of  the  late  Nicholas  Rarey,  he  was  born  August  16,  1865,  in  the 
township  where  he  now  resides,  and  where  his  life  has  since  been  spent. 
His  paternal  grandfather,  Parker  Rarey,  a native  of  Virginia,  was  a 
pioneer  of  Franklin  county,  Ohio,  locating  there  early  in  the  nineteenth 
century.  He  married  Mary  Burgett,  who  was  born  in  Maryland,  and 
of  the  eight  children  born  to  them  two  are  now  living,  namely : Clorinda 
and  Martha  A. 

Nicholas  Rarey  was  born,  March  2,  1824,  in  Franklin  county,  Ohio, 
which  was  likewise  the  birthplace  of  his  cousin,  John  S.  Rarey,  who 
achieved  a world-wide  reputation  as  a horse  tamer  and  trainer.  A 
farmer  by  occupation,  he  settled  in  Pleasant  township,  Hardin  county, 
and  on  the  land  that  he  improved  spent  his  last  years,  dying  November 
12.  1903.  He  was  twice  married,  by  his  first  wife,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Sarah  Johnson,  having  five  children,  as  follows:  Aroh  M.,  Ann  E., 
Francis  M.,  Jefferson  P.  and  Parker  A.,  all  of  whom  are  deceased  save 
Ann  E.,  who  is  the  Avife  of  J.  C.  Johnson.  He  married  second,  Novem- 
ber 23,  1854,  Maria  L.  Allen,  who  was  born  in  Ohio,  on  the  banks  of  the 
Scioto  river,  January  4,  1834,  and  died  December  6,  1906.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  A.  IT.  and  Rebecca  Allen.  To  her  and  her  husband  five 
children  were  born,  namely:  Iva.  R.,  deceased,  was  born  October  24, 

1855;  Clarinda  E.,  deceased,  born  March  18,  1858;  Maria  L.,  born  March 
20,  1860,  is  the  wife  of  J.  Bishop  ; Judson  A.,  subject  of  this  brief  sketch ; 
and  Edmund  M.,  born  May  19,  1871.  Mr.  Rarey  served  in  the  Civil 
war  from  May,  1864,  until  September,  1864,  being  a member  of  Company 
A,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-fifth  Ohio  National  Guards. 

Developing  into  a sturdy  manhood  on  the  home  farm,  Judson  A. 
Rarey  received  his  elementary  education  in  the  district  schools,  after 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


545 


which  he  took  a classical  and  business  course  at  the  Ohio  Northern 
University  in  Ada,  Ohio.  He  has  since  devoted  his  energies  mostly  to 
agricultural  pursuits,  and  in  his  operations  has  met  with  marked  success 
and  now  owns  two  valuable  farms,  his  home  estate  of  one  hundred  and 
eighty-seven  acres,  and  a farm  of  one  hundred  and  fifteen  acres  in 
Dudley  township. 

Mr.  Rarey  married,  in  1889,  Iva  A.  Marshall,  who  was  born  August 
11,  1867,  in  Union  county,  Ohio,  a daughter  of  J.  C.  Marshall,  who  served 
as  a soldier  in  the  Civil  war  for  three  years,  being  a member  of  the 
Eighty-sixth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  from  which  he  was  honorably 
discharged  at  the  close  of  the  conflict.  He  was  born,  December  26, 
1841,  in  Union  county,  Ohio,  a.  son  of  Joshua  and  Annetta  (Coolidge) 
Marshall.  On  April  1.  1866,  Mr.  Marshall  married  Sarah  Ann  Evans, 
whose  birth  occurred,  February  4,  1845,  in  Champaign  county,  Ohio, 
and  to  them  five  children  were  born,  as  follows : Iva  Annetta,  wife  of 

Mr.  Rarey;  Fred  E.,  born  December  22,  1869;  Joseph,  born  July  29, 
1873;  Victor  J.,  born  May  4.  1880;  and  Park,  born  August  2,  1885,  who 
died  March  7,  1889.  J.  C.  Marshall  died  October  12,  1908,  and  his  wife 
in  1892. 

Francis  M.  Rarey,  the  only  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rarey,  was  born 
August  23,  1890,  in  Pleasant  township,  Hardin  county.  The  family 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Alfred  T.  Sponsler,  a prominent  farmer  and  stockman  of  Cessna 
township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Taylor  Creek  township, 
Hardin  county,  November  22,  1847,  a son  of  Jacob  and  Margaret 
(Slonaker)  Sponsler,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  Jacob  Sponsler 
and  his  wife  were  reared  in  their  native  state  and  after  their  marriage 
settled  in  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  spending  the  remainder  of  their  lives 
in  Taylor  Creek  township.  He  became  prosperous  and  well-to-do, 
clearing  and  improving  his  land.  He  was  the  father  of  nine  children, 
of  whom  seven' are  still  living  (1910). 

The  boyhood  and  youth  of  Alfred  T.  Sponsler  were  spent  on  his 
father ’s  farm  -in  Taylor  Creek  township ; he  went  to  the  district  school 
winters  and  helped  with  the  farm  work  as  soon  as  old  enough.  He  was 
an  ambitious  student  and  acquired  sufficient  education  to  enable  him  to 
teach,  which  he  continued  six  winter  terms.  He  received  his  profes- 
sional training  in  the  normal  school  in  Lebanon,  Ohio. 

In  1873  Mr.  Sponsler  married  Joanna  Baldwin,  and  they  had  three 
children,  as  follows : Minnie,  wife  of  Alfred  H.  Fulton ; Ora,  a graduate 
of  Kenton  high  school  and  also  of  Delaware  College ; and  Francis  C., 
of  Denver,  Colorado.  Mrs.  Sponsler  died  October  14.  1896,  and  Mr. 
Sponsler  married  for  his  second  wife  Mrs.  Minnie  (Roby)  Cessna,  widow 
of  Grant  Cessna,  by  whom  she  had  one  child,  Meva.  Of  the  second 
marriage  one  child  was  born,  Inez  S.,  attending  school.  Mr.  Sponsler 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Fairview, 
in  which  he  is  a trustee,  and  he  has  served  many  years  in  the  capacity  of 
superintendent  and  assistant  superintendent  of  Sunday  schools.  Politi- 
cally he  is  a Republican  and  has  served  as  a member  of  the  school  board. 


546 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


He  owns  three  hundred  and  twelve  acres  of  fine,  fertile  farm  land  in 
Cessna  and  Lynn  townships,  which  he  has  all  under  cultivation,  and 
looks  carefully  after  the  conduct  of  his  farms.  He  makes  a specialty  of 
stock  raising  and  has  a good  grade  of  stock.  His  present  handsome 
residence  was  erected  in  1903,  and  it  is  well  situated  on  a pleasant  site ; 
the  house  has  every  modern  convenience  and  is  equipped  with  a hot 
water  plant.  Mr.  Sponsler  makes  a study  of  modern  methods  and  is  an 
enterprising,  up-to-date  farmer.  He  is  actively  interested  in  public 
affairs  and  is  a public-spirited,  useful  citizen. 

Charles  W.  Lease  is  one  of  the  representative  farmers  of  Washing- 
ton township,  where  he  owns  a splendid  estate  of  one  hundred  and 
eighty  acres.  He  has  owned  this  land  since  1893,  and  he  has  made 
many  needed  and  valuable  improvements  thereon  since  it  has  been  his 
home,  and  during  these  years  he  has  also  served  his  township  as  trustee. 
Born  in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  July  10,  1854,  he  is  a son  of  George  and 
Johanna  Lease,  who  moved  from  Logan  county  to  Taylor  Creek  township 
in  Hardin  county  in  1863,  and  their  names  are  therefore  enrolled  among 
the  pioneers  of  this  county.  Mr.  Lease  was  a son  of  Samuel  Lease,  who 
had  moved  from  Ross  county,  this  state,  to  Logan  county  in  the  early 
year  of  1826.  On  locating  in  Hardin  county  George  Lease  purchased 
ninety  acres  of  wild  and  unimproved  land,  and  moving  into  a little  log- 
cabin  he  set  to  work  to  clear  his  land  and  prepare  it  for  cultivation,  and 
all  this  he  succeeded  in  accomplishing  in  due  time.  He  bought  land 
from  time  to  time  till  he  had  two  hundred  and  twenty-seven  acres.  Of 
the  three  children  which  were  born  of  his  marriage  the  two  now  living 
are  Margaret,  wife  of  C.  E.  Beckett,  of  this  county,  and  Charles  W. 

Although  born  in  Logan  county  Charles  W.  Lease  was  reared  and 
educated  in  Hardin  county,  spending  several  terms  at  Ada  University, 
and  a part  of  his  early  life  was  devoted  to  educational  work.  Moving 
to  Kansas  in  1885,  he  lived  there  until  1893,  and  returning  then  to 
Hardin  he  purchased  and  moved  to  his  present  homestead.  In  1880  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Rebecca  Hakes,  and  a son  Lloyd  R.  has  been  born  to 
them.  Mr.  Lease  is  a member  of  the  fraternal  order  of  Odd  Fellows 
and  one  of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  and  his  religious  home  is  with  the 
Presbyterian  church,  which  he  has  served  as  the  superintendent  of  its 
Sunday  school  and  as  an  active  church  worker,  he  being  an  elder  in  the 
church.  The  son,  Lloyd  R.,  who  lives  on  the  home  place  with  his 
father,  married  Louise  Wiliike  of  this  township,  a daughter  of  J.  H. 
Willike.  They  have  three  children:  Georgia  Lueile,  Charles  Wilbur 

and  Lloyd  Willis. 

Daniel  H.  Wagner. — Among  the  native  born  citizens  of  Hardin 
county  who  have  spent  their  lives  within  its  boundaries,  aiding  in  every 
possible  way  its  growth  and  development,  whether  relating  to  its  agricul- 
tural or  financial  interests,  stands  Daniel  H.  Wagner,  of  Kenton,  whose 
birth  occurred,  May  21,  1841,  in  Pleasant  township,  where  his  father, 
Samuel  Wagner,  was  a pioneer.  John  Wagner,  his  paternal  grand- 
father, was  a soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  was  at  the  battle  of 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


547 


Yorktown  and  witnessed  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis.  He  was  a life- 
long resident  of  Pennsylvania,  and  there  his  wife,  Susanna  Lees,  also 
spent  her  years. 

A native  of  Berks  county,  Pennsylvania,  Samuel  Wagner  was  born 
November  8,  1800.  Reared  to  habits  of  industry  and  thrift,  he  began 
working  in  a flour  mill  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  and  during  the  next 
seven  years  became  master  of  the  trade  of  a miller.  Going  then  to 
Hagerstown,  Maryland,  he  became  manager  of  what  was  then  the  largest 
flouring  mill  in  the  country.  In  1833  he  came  to  Hardin  county,  locat- 
ing as  a pioneer  in  Pleasant  township.  All  of  this  section  of  the  country 
was  then  in  its  pristine  wildness,  the  greater  part  of  the  land  being 
owned  by  the  government  and  on  sale  at  one  dollar  and  twenty-five  cents 
an  acre.  He  helped  build  the  first  log  cabin  in  what  is  now  the  town  of 
Kenton,  and  then  the  surrounding  woods  was  inhabited  by  deer,  bears, 
wolves,  and  wild  animals  of  all  descriptions.  Selecting  what  he  deemed 
the  most  desirable  piece  of  land  in  Pleasant  township,  he  entered  it  from 
the  government,  and  soon  began  the  arduous  task  of  hewing  a farm  from 
the  wilderness.  A man  of  indomitable  resolution  and  perseverance,  he 
succeeded  in  his  efforts,  redeeming  a fine  homestead,  and  subsequently 
assisted  each  of  his  children  to  homes.  He  passed  to  the  higher  life 
November  17,  1891,  at  the  venerable  age  of  ninety-one  years.  On 
December  25,  1834,  he  married  Mary  Hossman,  who  was  born  in  Carroll 
county,  Ohio.  Her  father,  Levi  Hossman,  a Virginian  by  birth,  was  an 
early  settler  of  Carroll  county.  From  there  he  came,  in  1833,  to 
Pleasant  township,  Hardin  county,  where  he  secured  a tract  of  govern- 
ment land,  on  which  he  resided  a number  of  years,  busily  engaged  in 
farming.  He  subsequently  removed  to  Iowa,  and  there  spent  the  last 
days  of  his  life.  He  married  Mary  Wilson,  who  was  born  in  New  York 
city,  the  descendant  of  a wealthy  English  family.  Samuel  Wagner  and 
his  wife  reared  eleven  children,  as  follows:  Susan,  Levi,  Catherine  A., 

Daniel  H.,  Mary  A.,  Margaret  E.,  Samuel  T.,  Rachel  E.,  Eunice  C., 
Isadore  P.,  and  Pheotas  V. 

Reared  -to  agricultural  pursuits,  Daniel  II.  Wagner  found  farming 
congenial  to  his  tastes,  and  after  his  marriage  settled  on  land  belonging 
to  his  father,  on  section  twenty-seven  in  Pleasant  township.  He  later 
succeeded  to  the  ownership  of  the  land,  and  managed  it  successfully 
until  1900,  when  he  rented  that  property  and  removed  to  the  home  he 
now  occupies  on  East  Columbus  street,  Kenton. 

Mr.  Wagner  has  been  twice  married.  He  married  first,  November 
5,  1868,  Rachel  Emmons,  who  was  born  in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio, 
June  28,  1848.  Her  parents,  William  J.  and  Sarah  Emmons,  settled  in 
Goshen  township,  Hardin  county,  in  1850,  but  subsequently  removed  to 
Kenton,  where  they  lived  the  remainder  of  their  years.  Mrs.  Rachel 
Wagner  died  September  5,  1885,  leaving  two  children,  namely:  Carroll, 
who  married  Laura  Kahler,  by  whom  he  has  four  children,  Dan  K., 
Edward  C.,  Margaret  and  Carroll  Richard;  and  William  Dowling  who 
married  Callie  Amweg.  Mr.  Wagner  married,  September  21,  1887, 
Florence  Williamson,  who  was  born  in  Pleasant  township,  Hardin  coun- 
ty, October  30,  1857,  a daughter  of  Nathaniel  and  Serena  (Davis) 


548 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Williamson,  of  whom  a brief  personal  history  may  be  found  elsewhere 
in  this  work.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wagner  are  the  parents  of  three  children, 
namely : Mary,  who  graduated  from  the  Kenton  high  school  and  is  now 
a student  in  Hiram  College;  and  Esther  and  John  A.,  twins.  Religiously 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wagner  are  faithful  members  of  the  Church  of  Christ. 

J.  A.  Orth  has  for  years  been  a prominent  factor  in  the  business 
affairs  of  the  town  of  Dunkirk,  Ohio.  He  is  a native  of  this  state,  born 
in  Wayne  county  February  26,  1836,  but  since  he  was  six  weeks  old  he 
has  lived  in  Hardin  county,  and  most  of  the  time  since  1871  has  made 
his  home  in  Dunkirk.  Here  he  has  acquired  considerable  property  and 
has  varied  interests.  When  a young  man  he  ran  a sawmill  for  seven 
years,  and  for  more  than  thirty  years  his  planing  mill,  situated  on  North 
Main  street,  just  outside  the  corporation  limits  and  covering  about  two 
acres  of  land,  has  been  the  scene  of  no  little  activity.  This  plant  is  now 
operated  by  a twenty  horse  power  gasoline  engine. 

While  in  Washington  township,  Mr.  Orth  served  as  assessor,  and 
after  he  came  to  Dunkirk  he  filled  that  office,  and  he  also  served  as  a 
member  of  the  town  council.  As  in  the  conduct  of  his  private  affairs 
he  has  always  been  progressive,  he  has  shown  himself  alert  to  promote 
the  best  interests  of  the  town. 

In  1864,  when  the  Civil  war  cloud  hung  heavy  over  the  land,  Mr. 
Orth,  as  a member  of  the  Seventh  Company,  Ohio  Volunteers,  was  de- 
tailed to  duty  at  General  Sherman’s  headquarters,  during  that  General’s 
famous  march  to  the  sea.  Mr.  Orth  served  until  July  28,  1865,  when 
he  was  honorably  discharged  and  returned  to  the  little  family  he  had 
left  behind. 

In  1860  he  was  happily  married  to  Miss  Barbara  Markley,  who  bore 
him  seven  children,  six  of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  namely : Edward,  a 
druggist  of  Lima,  Ohio;  William,  of  Dunkirk;  Charles  of  Columbus, 
Ohio ; Olive,  now  Mrs.  Hendershot,  of  Michigan ; J.  B.  and  Frederick, 
both  of  Dunkirk. 

Of  Mr.  Orth’s  parents,  Adam  and  Mary  E.  (Troutman)  Orth,  we 
record  that  both  were  born  and  reared  in  Germany.  Adam  Orth  emi- 
grated to  America  about  1832.  He  was  a sturdy,  honest  man  with  an 
ambition  to  become  a good  citizen  of  his  adopted  country.  On  his 
arrival  in  Washington  township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  he  entered  two 
hundred  acres  of  land  from  the  Government,  this  land  being  then  in  its 
primitive  state,  covered  with  a heavy  growth  of  timber.  About  half 
of  this  tract  he  cleared  and  brought  under  cultivation.  Then  he  sold 
out.  Afterward  he  bought  two  other  tracts  of  land  in  the  same  town- 
ship, where  lie  lived  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1870.  It  is  worthy 
of  record  here,  that  Adam  Orth  was  the  first  man  in  Washington  town- 
ship to  own  a yoke  of  oxen.  One  night,  accompanied  by  his  son  John, 
he  was  returning  home  with  a load  of  provisions  and  lost  his  way  in 
the  dense  forest.  Unable  to  get  his  bearings,  he  turned  his  oxen  loose, 
trusting  to  their  instinct  to  find  their  way  home,  and  he  followed  them, 
leaving  his  son  to  protect  the  cart  load  of  provisions  from  the  wild 
animals.  As  he  supposed,  the  cattle  found  their  way  home,  and  the  next 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


549 


morning  he  returned  with  them  for  the  cart  and  the  boy.  Adam  Orth 
was  twice  married,  first  to  a Miss  Weaver  in  Germany,  by  whom  he  had 
five  children:  George,  John,  Leonard,  Margaret  and  Elizabeth.  On 

the  death  of  this  wife  he  repaired  to  Germany,  where  he  subsequently 
married  Miss  Mary  E.  Troutman,  the  mother  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  Her  children  are  John  J.,  J.  A.  and  Frederick,  the  latter 

dying  in  1855.  Mr.  Orth  died  on  the  28th  of  November,  1906. 

C.  E.  Ludwig  is  numbered  among  the  younger  representatives  of 
the  agricultural  interests  of  Washington  township,  where  by  his  own 
unaided  efforts  he  has  made  for  himself  and  family  a delightful  home 
with  pleasant  surroundings.  Here  he  owns  a splendid  estate  of  eighty 
acres,  highly  improved  and  cultivated.  Mr.  Ludwig  was  born  in  Wyan- 
dot county,  Ohio,  in  1872,  but  he  was  reared  and  educated  in  Hardin 
county,  whither  he  had  come  with  his  parents,  G.  C.  and  Lydia  A. 

(Owens)  Ludwig,  also  born  in  Wyandot  county,  on  the  22 d of  March, 

1882.  The  senior  Mr.  Ludwig  purchased  a farm  of  one  hundred  and 
two  acres  of  unimproved  land  near  the  town  of  Dola,  which  he  improved 
and  finally  sold,  then  buying  in  1894,  the  farm  which  his  son  now  owns, 
the  latter  purchasing  it  in  1899.  George  C.  Ludwig  has  held  the  office 
of  assessor,  and  has  been  quite  prominent  in  the  life  of  his  community. 
By  his  first  wife  he  has  six  children:  George  C.,  Jr.,  C.  E.,  F.  J.,  R.  F., 
May  and  Bertha.  The  mother  of  these  children  died  on  the  17th  of 
January,  1905,  and  in  1907  Mr.  Ludwig  was  married  to  Mattie  H. 
Matthews,  widow  of  the  late  Elmer  Matthews  and  a most  estimable  lady. 

C.  E.  Ludwig  has  been  identified  with  agricultural  pursuits  from 
early  life,  and  he  has  been  very  successful  in  this  calling.  In  1893  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Adella,  a daughter  of  Homer  and  Martha  Vaughn,  and 
they  have  five  children : Irvin  D..  Fay  E.,  Homer  II..  Ernest  D.  and  Anna 
F.  Mrs.  Ludwig  was  born  in  Medina  county,  Ohio.  Mr.  Ludwig  is 
a worthy  member  and  an  elder  of  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Dola,  and 
he  is  also  prominently  identified  with  the  order  of  Patrons  and  Industry. 

Dr.  Albert  Edwin  Smith,  D.  D.,  Ph.  D. — As  president  of  the  Ohio 
Northern  University  at  Ada,  Dr.  Albert  Edwin  Smith.  D.  D.,  Ph.  D.,  is 
carrying  on  an  important  work,  through  his  wise  administration  gradual- 
ly elevating  this  institution  to  a place  of  great  prominence  and  influence 
among  the  sectarian  schools  of  the  country.  A son  of  the  late  IT.  E. 
Smith,  he  was  born,  December  16,  1860.  in  Clermont  county,  Ohio.  His 
paternal  grandfather,  Albert  Edwin  Smith,  for  whom  he  was  named, 
migrated  from  Germany  to  this  country  in  1848,  settling  first  in  New 
York  city,  from  there  coming  to  Marietta,  Ohio,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
business  until  his  death,  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven  years. 

H.  E.  Smith  was  born  in  Berlin,  Germany,  and  there  received  his 
elementary  education.  At  the  age  of  thirteen  years  he  came  across  the 
ocean  with  his  parents,  and  here  completed  his  school  life.  In  Septem- 
ber, 1861,  he  enlisted  in  the  Fifty-ninth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and 
for  more  than  four  years  served  in  the  defense  of  his  adopted  country, 
taking  part  in  many  engagements  of  importance  during  the  Civil  war. 


550 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


He  subsequently  continued  his  residence  in  Clermont  county  until  his 
death,  when  but  sixty-four  years  of  age.  He  married,  in  Clermont 
county,  Mary  A.  Lindsey,  whose  parents,  Levi  and  Mary  A.  Lindsey, 
were  pioneer  settlers  of  that  part  of  Ohio.  His  widow  is  still  living. 
Ten  children  blessed  their  union,  nine  sons,  all  of  whom  are  living,  and 
a daughter  that  died  when  but  fifteen  months  old. 

The  eldest  child  of  the  family,  Dr.  Albert  Edwin  Smith,  spent  his 
boyhood  days  at  New  Richmond,  Ohio,  gleaning  his  first  knowledge  of 
books  in  the  common  schools.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  years  he  became 
self  supporting,  working  at  anything  he  could  find  to  do,  being  employed 
on  a farm,  in  a brick  yard  and  in  a saw  mill.  At  the  age  of  nineteen 
years  he  entered  the  New  Richmond  high  school,  where  he  studied  for  a 
year.  He  subsequently  worked  his  way  through  the  Clermont  Academy, 
of  which  J.  K.  Parker  was  then  the  principal,  being  graduated  with  the 
class  of  1883,  in  June.  The  following  year  the  Doctor  preached  on  the 
Chilo  circuit,  having  charge  of  four  churches  in  Clermont  county.  Go- 
ing then  to  Delaware,  Ohio,  in  the  fall  of  1884,  he  entered  the  classical 
department  of  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  University,  from  which  he  was  gradu- 
ated in  1887.  Joining  then  the  Central  Ohio  Conference,  the  Doctor 
had  charge  of  the  four  churches  on  the  York  circuit  for  four  years. 
The  following  three  years  he  was  located  in  Celina,  Mercer  county,  Ohio, 
from  there  going  to  Toledo,  where  he  became  the  first  pastor  of  the 
Epworth  church,  of  which  he  had  charge  for  a year.  Dr.  Smith  was 
afterwards  pastor  of  St.  Paul ’s  Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  Defiance 
for  four  years,  and  was  engaged  in  his  ministerial  labors  at  Marion, 
Ohio,  for  six  years,  having  charge  of  Epworth  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  the  largest  church  in  the  conference.  On  June  27,  1905,  he  was 
elected  president  of  the  Ohio  Northern  University,  and  on  July  20  of 
that  year  assumed  the  duties  of  the  position,  which  he  has  since  held. 
The  Doctor  is  a man  of  strong  personality,  and  those  who  have  the 
pleasure  of  his  acquaintance  find  him  a polished  gentleman,  broadened 
by  extensive  travel,  not  only  in  our  own  country  but  throughout  Europe 
and  the  Holy  Land,  and  by  contact  with  public  men  and  public  affairs. 

Dr.  Smith  married,  October  26,  1887,  Harriet  Vergon,  who  was  born 
in  Delaware,  Ohio,  and  was  there  educated,  being  graduated  from  the 
Ohio  Wesleyan  University  on  the  very  same  day  that  her  husband  received 
his  diploma.  Her  parents,  F.  P.  and  Catherine  Vergon,  were  pioneer 
settlers  of  Delaware  county,  where  her  father  has  been  for  many  years  a 
prominent  apple  grower.  Seven  children  have  been  born  to  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  Smith,  namely:  Rachel,  Edwin,  Paul,  Seth,  deceased,  Harriet, 

Easter,  deceased,  and  Benjamin.  The  Doctor  has  taken  the  degrees  of 
B.  A.,  M.  A.  and  of  Ph.  D.,  and  has  twice  had  the  degree  of  D.  D. 
conferred  upon  him. 

E.  B.  Hiestand,  M.  1).,  & Son.— E.  B.  Hiestand,  M.  D.,  one  of  the 
leading  physicians  of  Hardin  county,  has  the  distinction  of  being  the 
longest  established  practitioner  of  Kenton,  where  he  has  built  up  an 
exceedingly  renumerative  patronage,  his  wisdom  and  skill  gaining  for 
him  the  confidence  of  the  community.  Having  some  years  ago  admitted 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


551 


his  son  to  partnership,  the  firm  of  E.  B.  Hiestand  & Son  has  become 
widely  known  throughout  this  section  of  the  county,  and  is  often  called 
upon  for  counsel  and  advice  as  well  as  for  its  regular  practice.  A 
native  of  Ohio,  Dr.  E.  B.  Hiestand  was  born,  April  11,  1830,  in  Fairfield 
county,  a son  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Hiestand. 

Rev.  Samuel  Hiestand  was  born  and  bred  in  Maryland,  coming 
from  both  the  paternal  and  maternal  sides  of  the  house  of  German 
ancestry.  Educated  for  the  ministry,  he  was  connected  with  the  United 
Brethren  church  during  his  active  career,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  when 
but.  fifty-six  years  of  age,  having  been  a bishop  of  the  church.  He 
married  Anna  Rodabough,  who  was  born  in  Ohio,  of  German  parentage, 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  six  sons  and  four  daughters,  all  of  whom 
grew  to  years  of  maturity,  E.  B.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  being  the 
seventh  child  and  the  fifth  son. 

The  only  survivor  of  the  parental  household,  E.  B.  Hiestand,  has 
had  a long  and  useful  career,  in  which  he  has  met  with  success  from  the 
start,  in  the  meantime  gaining  great  popularity  not  only  as  a physician 
and  surgeon,  but  as  an  esteemed  and  respected  citizen.  At  the  age  of 
fourteen  years,  having  obtained  his  rudimentary  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  Baltimore,  Ohio,  he  entered  the  Starling  Medical 
College,  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  where  he  was  graduated,  with  the  degree  of 
M.  D.,  in  1863.  Beginning  his  medical  career  in  Ansonia,  Darke 
county,  Ohio,  Dr.  E.  B.  Hiestand  subsequently  continued  his  practice 
at  Canonburg,  Hancock  county,  at  North  Washington  and  at  Ada, 
Hardin  county.  Coming,  in  1871,  from  the  latter  place  to  Kenton,  he 
has  since  continued  here.  He  is  finely  educated,  by  reading  and  study 
having  kept  in  close  touch  with  the  modern  methods  of  treating  diseases, 
both  as  regards  medicine  and  surgery.  He  lias  won  three  diplomas, 
receiving  the  first  one  at  the  Starling  Medical  College,  the  second  at 
Rush  Medical  College,  where  he  likewise  took  a post  graduate  course, 
and  the  third  at  the  Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  College,  where  he  also 
took  a post'  graduate  course.  The  Doctor  is  prominent  in  medical 
circles,  being  a member  of  the  American  Medical  Association ; of  the 
State  Medical  Society;  of  the  Northwestern  Medical  Association  of 
Ohio ; and  of  the  Hardin  County  Medical  Association. 

Dr.  Hiestand  married,  June  17,  1856,  Hadassali  Ann  Harris,  who 
was  born  in  Mahoning  county,  Ohio,  and  they  have  one  son  living, 
namely:  Howard  E.  Hiestand,  M.  D.,  junior  member  of  the  firm  of  Dr. 
E.  B.  Hiestand  & Son.  Fraternally  the  Doctor  is  very  prominent  in 
the  Masonic  order,  belonging  to  the  lodge,  chapter,  council,  commandery 
and  to  the  shrine.  He  is  a Democrat  in  politics,  and  in  1863  received 
the  nomination  for  representative  to  the  state  legislature,  but  was 
defeated  at  the  polls,  his  district  being  a Republican  stronghold. 

Professor  John  G.  Park. — The  corps  of  instructors  of  the  Ohio 
Northern  University  at  Ada  includes  scholars  of  distinction  and  merit, 
noteworthy  among  whom  is  Professor  John  G.  Park,  one  of  the  original 
promoters  and  owners  of  the  school  from  which  this  institution  has  been 
developed.  A native  of  Ohio,  he  was  born,  September  20,  1819,  in 


HISTORY  OF  IIARDIN  COUNTY 


Hancock  county,  a son  of  William  Park.  He  comes  of  Scotch  ancestry, 
and  his  grandfather  Park,  a resident  of  Huntingdon  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, was  a soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 

William  Park  was  born  in  Huntingdon  county,  Pennsylvania,  in 
1811,  and  was  there  brought  up  and  educated.  About  1836  he  came  to 
Ohio,  locating  in  Knox  county,  where  he  lived  for  four  years,  superin- 
tending in  the  meantime  the  construction  of  Walhonding  Canal.  Mov- 
ing to  Hancock  county  in  1840,  he  purchased  land,  and  on  the  farm 
which  he  improved  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  passing  away  at  the 
venerable  age  of  eighty-two  years.  He  married  Mary  Riley,  whose 
father  was  of  Irish  descent,  and  her  mother  of  Scotch  ancestry.  Her 

parents  were  early  settlers  of  Knox  county,  locating  there  when  the 
country  roundabout  was  in  its  original  wildness,  the  wild  woods  being 
still  the  “happy  hunting  grounds”  of  the  dusky  savage,  who  had  not 
then  fled  before  the  advancing  steps  of  civilization.  She  survived  her 
husband,  attaining  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-nine  years.  Of  the 
nine  children  born  of  their  union  all  but  one  are  now  living,  John  0., 
the  special  subject  of  this  brief  biographical  sketch,  being. the  sixth  child 
in  succession  of  birth,  and  the  second  son. 

Brought  up  on  the  parental  homestead  in  Orange  township,  Hancock 
county,  John  G.  Park  received  his  preliminary  education  in  the  district 
schools,  afterwards  being  graduated  from  the  high  school  in  Ada,  which 
was  but  five  and  one-half  miles  from  his  home.  In  1870  he  became 
interested  in  the  school  which  has  since  developed  into  the  Ohio  Northern 
University,  in  partnership  with  Dr.  Lehr  and  B.  F.  Neisz  becoming  its 
owner,  and  retaining  the  ownership  until  selling  the  college  and  its 
buildings  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  denomination.  Professor  Park 
was  one  of  the  first  teachers  of  the  institution,  and  with  the  exception  of 
six  months  spent  at  Eureka  College,  in  Eureka,  Illinois,  continued  as 
one  of  its  instructors  until  it  was  sold.  In  1907  Professor  Park  resumed 
his  connection  with  the  University,  teaching  two  hours  each  day.  He 
publishes  his  own  English  Analysis.  His  English  Grammar  and 
Language  Work  is  published  by  the  American  Book  Company.  The 
Professor  is  officially  connected  with  the  Liberty  Bank,  of  which  he  is 
one  of  the  directorate,  and  has  extensive  interests  in  other  lines  and  the 
owner  of  valuable  farming  property  in  Hardin  county. 

Professor  Park  married  Lydia  J.  Wilson,  who  was  born  in  Hardin 
county,  Ohio,  a daughter  of  H.  H.  and  Mary  Jane  Wilson.  Her  father 
was  an  early  settler  of  Hardin  county,  and  for  many  years  active  in 
public  affairs,  serving  as  county  commissioner.  Mrs.  Park  is  a woman 
of  talent  and  culture,  and  a graduate  of  the  School  of  Art  connected 
with  the  Ohio  Northern  University.  The  Professor  is  a Republican  in 
his  political  affiliations,  and  a valued  member  of  the  Christian  church, 
in  which  he  has  been  an  elder  for  many  years.  He  has  been  very  influ- 
ential in  promoting  the  work  of  the  Sunday  school,  in  which  he  has 
taught,  for  thirty-four  years. 

W.  F.  Kurtz,  an  enterprising  and  progressive  farmer  of  Jackson 
township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Germany,  in  1849,  and  is 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


553 


a son  oh'  W.  M.  and  Ann  (Windish)  Kurtz.  W.  M.  Kurtz  and  his 
wife  were  married  in  Germany  and  emigrated  to  the  United  States  with 
their  family,  in  1858,  locating  in  Wyandot  county,  Ohio,  where  they 
remained  many  years.  Mr.  Kurtz  owned  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  land  there,  which  later  became  the  property  of  his  son.  W.  F.  Kurtz.- 
Of  the  children  of  W.  M.  Kurtz  and  his  wife  the  following  survive : W. 
F.,  Charles.  Minnie.  Frank  and  Sherman. 

The  boyhood  of  W.  F.  Kurtz  was  spent  in  Wyandot  county,  Ohio, 
and  he  received  a fair  education.  He  taught  school  two  years  before 
engaging  in  farming  on  his  own  account.  When  a young  man  Mr. 
Kurtz  went  to  Kansas  and  spent  one  year  in  that  state,  and  returning  to 
Ohio  he  located  in  Henry  county,  where  he  remained  two  years.  After 
spending  a short  time  in  Hancock  county  he  moved  to  Hardin  county 
in  1884.  and  has  made  this  a permanent  residence  since.  Mr.  Kurtz 
has  made  his  own  way  in  the  world  since  he  was  old  enough  to  do  so.  and 
has  shown  himself  to  possess  great  energy  and  ambition,  acquiring  a 
position  of  independence  and  comfort.  He  now  owns  four  hundred 
and  sixteen  acres  of  land  in  Jackson  township,  where  he  resides,  and 
two  hundred  acres  in  Wyandot  county.  Ohio.  His  wife  owns  one  hun- 
dred and  eight  acres  of  land  in  Hancock  county. 

Mr.  Kurtz  is  actively  interested  in  public  affairs  and  is  a repre- 
sentative. useful  citizen.  He  is  well  known  and  popular  in  the  com- 
munity, and  highly  respected  for  his  business  ability.  He  is  vice 
president  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Forest  and  has  served  on  the 
school  board.  Mr.  Kurtz  is  an  active  and  consistent  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  supports  every  good  cause. 

In  1881  Mr.  Kurtz  was  united  in  marriage  with  Alice  Moffitt.  a 
native  of  Hancock  county,  Ohio,  born  in  1852.  and  to  this  union  have 
been  born  eight  children,  as  follows:  Bertha  (deceased).  Clifford,  Estey 
F..  Ray,  Gail,  Roy  and  Moffitt  and  Olivet,  (twins).  One  of  the  twins, 
Moffitt,  is  deceased. 

Michael  Ivrock,  a well  known  and  prosperous  farmer  of  Jackson 
township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Wyandot  county.  Ohio, 
in  1856.  He  is  a son  of  Frederick  and  Barbara  Krock,  both  natives 
of  Germany,  who  emigrated  to  the  United  States  as  children,  with  their 
respective  parents  and  located  in  Wyandot  county.  He  became  a suc- 
cessful farmer  and  purchased  six  hundred  acres  of  land,  which  he 
brought  to  a high  state  of  cultivation.  He  died  in  Wyandot  county 
in  1902;  his  wife  died  in  1895.  Their  children  were:  Frederick,  John. 
May,  Lucy,  Peter.  Michael,  Joseph,  Henry,  Fred  and  Charles.  Michael 
is  the  only  one  who  resides  in  Hardin  county. 

Michael  Krock  was  reared  in  Wyandot  county  and  educated  in  the 
common  schools.  Upon  completing  his  education  he  chose  the  career 
of  a farmer,  in  which  line  he  has  been  very  successful,  as  was  his  father 
before  him.  He  settled  in  Hardin  county  in  1838  and  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  well  cultivated  land,  and  has  made  many  further  im- 
provements in  his  place,  having  a comfortable  home  with  pleasant 
surroundings.  He  is  an  industrious  and  progressive  farmer  and  a 


554 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


public  spirited  citizen.  He  has  served  as  township  trustee  and  as 
member  of  the  school  board.  He  is  an  earnest  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church  of  Kenton,  Ohio. 

About  the  time  of  his  removal  to  Hardin  county  Mr.  Krock  married 
Lizzie  Trautman,  and  they  have  become  the  parents  of  ten  children,  as 
follows:  Annie,  Tillie,  Lucy,  Effie,  Florence,  Lizzie,  Henry,  Edward, 
Charles  and  John.  Annie,  the  oldest,  is  now  Mrs.  Lawrence  Old- 
hauser.  Mrs.  Krock  is  also  a native  of  Wyandot  county,  Ohio,  born  in 
1866. 


Jacob  W.  Crappy,  one  of  the  progressive  farmers  of  Washington 
township.  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  dates  his  birth  in  Switzerland,  December 
5,  1858.  He  has  been  a resident  of  America,  however,  since  1862, 
when  he  was  brought  here  by  his  parents,  Nicholas  and  Mary  A. 
(Struchen)  Crappy,  natives  of  Switzerland,  who,  upon  their  arrival 
in  this  country  settled  in  Erie  county,  Pennsylvania.  The  Crappy 
family  comprised  nine  children,  namely:  Nicholas;  John;  Benjamin, 
who  died  in  1873;  Godfrey;  Mary,  who  died  in  1908;  Godlieb;  Jacob  W., 
William  and  Frederick — the  last  two  born  in  Erie  county.  In  1873, 
the  whole  family  came  to  Ohio  and  took  up  tlieir  residence  in  Hardin 
county,  where  four  of  the  sons  are  still  living : Nicholas,  William.  God- 
lieb and  Jacob  W.  The  father  bought  forty  acres  of  land  in  Blanchard 
township,  south  of  Dunkirk,  on  which  he  made  his  home,  and  where  he 
died  in  September,  1882,  at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years.  The  mother 
died  in  1898. 

Jacob  W.  Crappy  spent  his  boyhood  days  from  the  time  he  was 
four  until  he  was  fifteen  in  Erie  county,  where  hfe  received  a common 
school  education  and  became  familiar  with  the  various  kinds  of  farm 
work.  He  continued  farming  after  coming  to  Ohio,  for  some  years 
working  for  others  and  later  engaging  in  agricultural  pursuits  on  his 
own  account.  He  now  occupies  a farm  of  one  hundred  and  fourteen 
acres,  situated  between  Dunkirk  and  Dola,  a portion  of  which  he  has 
owned  since  1897,  the  remainder  he  bought  in  1907. 

In  1884  Mr.  Crappy  married  Miss  Rose  Hess,  who  was  born  in  1865, 
on  the  farm  on  which  she  resided  until  her  death.  She  was  a daughter 
of  Philip  and  Elizabeth  Hess,  who  settled  in  Hardin  county,  on  the 
farm  where  Mr.  Crappy  now  resides,  in  1860.  The  children  of  this 
union  are  as  follows:  Frank  (deceased),  Florence,  Myrtle  (deceased), 
Emma,  Carl,  Mabel,  Lucile,  Emmerson,  Devere,  and  an  infant  deceased. 
Mrs.  Crappy  passed  away  on  the  26th  of  October,  1909,  respected  and 
loved  by  all  who  knew  her.  She  was  a kind  mother  and  a loving  wife. 

That  Mr.  Grappy  enjoys  the  confidence  and  respect  of  his  fellow 
citizens  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  he  has  been  given  the  preference  for 
local  offices,  such  as  township  trustee  and  school  director,  both  of  which 
he  filled  with  credit  to  himself  and  the  community. 

Asher  Henry  Derr,  a prominent  and  prosperous  farmer  of  Taylor 
Creek  township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  was  born  on  the  old  Derr  home- 
stead in  Taylor  Creek  township,  in  the  old  house  which  stands  in  the 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


555 


rear  of  the  present  dwelling,  October  24,  1862.  He  is  a son  of  Levi 
and  Mary  E.  (Duff)  Derr,  the  former  of  whom  now  lives  in  Belle 
Center.  Mrs.  Derr  died  in  1902.  They  had  children  as  follows : 
Asher  H, ; Martha  A.,  wife  of  S.  R.  McNeill,  of  Taylor  Creek  township ; 
Howard,  a farmer  of  Buck  township ; Anna  M.,  wife  of  Wilson  Lowe,  a 
farmer  of  Taylor  Creek  township;  Ora  J.,  deceased;  Nettie,  deceased; 
and  one  child  that  died  in  infancy.  Levi  Derr  was  horn  in  Logan 
county,  Ohio,  April  23,  1838,  son  of  Davis  and  Martha  (Johnson)  Derr, 
natives  of  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania.  Davis  Derr,  who  was 
born  in  1803,  moved  to  Logan  county,  Ohio,  with  his  parents,  in  1821. 
In  1855  they  removed  to  Hardin  county,  settling  in  Taylor  Creek  town- 
ship, where  Levi  Derr  was  born.  Levi  Derr  enlisted,  August  20,  1864, 
in  Company  H,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-eighth  Ohio  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, and  served  as  guard  for  prisoners  on  Johnson’s  Island  until 
July  17,  1865.  Returning  home,  he  followed  farming  until  a few  years 
ago,  when  he  retired  and  moved  to  Belle  Center.  He  was  married, 
January  29,  1862,  to  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  Duff,  who 
was  born  in  Logan  county  October  28,  1841. 

After  receiving  his  education  in  the  public  schools,  Asher  II.  Derr 
worked  on  the  farm  for  his  father.  When  twenty-five  years  old  he 
married  and  located  on  the  Lowe  farm,  where  he  remained  two  years. 
After  spending  two  years  on  the  Ross  farm  in  Buck  township  and  two 
years  on  the  Ritchie  farm,  he  removed  to  Silver  Creek,  where  he  and  his 
brother-in-law  engaged  in  the  grocery  business.  Two  years  later  he  sold 
out  his  interest  and  spent  four  years  with  his  parents.  In  1904  he  settled 
on  his  present  farm  of  eighty-two  acres,  where  he  carries  on  general 
farming  and  makes  a specialty  of  stock  raising.  He  has  been  very 
successful  and  is  considered  one  of  the  enterprising,  representative 
citizens  of  the  township.  He  is  a member  of  the  United  Presbyterian 
church  of  Silver  Creek  and  is  elder  and  treasurer  of  the  church.  He  is 
a Republican  and  very  active  in  his  party’s  interests.  He  is  serving 
his  third  year  as  a member  of  the  school  board. 

In  1888  Mr.  Derr  married  Anna  Maie  Wilson,  who  was  born  April 
14,  1867,  in  Kenton,  daughter  of  John  R.  Wilson,  who  now  lives  on  East 
Summit  street,  Kenton,  retired  from  active  life.  Mrs.  Derr  was  raised 
by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  B.  Douglas,  of  Lynn  township.  Mr.  Derr  and  his 
wife  became  the  parents  of  the  following  children : Levi  Boyd,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  two  years;  Harry  R.,  employed  as  a clerk  in  Silver  Creek; 
Walter  W.,  Oscar  W.  and  Milo  D.,  at  home ; and  an  infant,  deceased. 

Harvey  A.  Jacobs,  a resident  of  Washington  township,  although 
not  one  of  the  older  settlers  is  a progressive  farmer  and'  has  at  heart  any 
enterprise  that  will  advance  the  interests  of  his  county  and  community. 
He  was  born  in  Van  Wert,  Ohio,  in  1850,  a son  of  William  and  Jane 
Jacobs,  the  father  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  the  mother  in  Warren 
county,  Ohio.  William  Jacobs  came  to  Ohio  in  1822,  and  although  by 
trade  a tailor  he  later  became  identified  with  the  agricultural  interests 
of  this  county  and  was  successful  as  a business  man.  His  family  num- 
bered eleven  children,  namely:  Eliza  J.,  Lovisa  A.,  Samuel,  Elizabeth, 


556 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Sarah  C.,  Harvey  A.,  Edith  M.,  Susan,  Thomas  K.,  John  W.  and  one 
who  died  in  infancy.  William  Jacobs  died  in  the  year  of  1891,  and 
his  wife  Jane  died  in  1905. 

Harvey  A.  Jacobs  was  reared  and  educated  in  Allen  county,  Ohio, 
where  during  a number  of  years  he  was  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
lumber,  but  in  1906  he  sold  his  business  there  to  come  to  Hardin  county, 
here  purchasing  his  present  homestead  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  Washing- 
ton township.  He  has  since  greatly  improved  this  farm,  and  he  is 
numbered  prominently  among  Washington  township’s  progressive  busi- 
ness men.  He  has  been  twice  married,  wedding  first  Miss  Rachel 
Moore,  who  was  born  in  the  mother  country  of  England  in  1856,  and  she 
died  in  the  year  of  1883.  Their  marriage  took  place  in  1871,  and  three 
children  were  born  to  them:  William  W.,  Agnes  G.  and  Rex  C.  For 
his  second  wife  Mr.  Jacobs  married  Miss  Melita  Williams,  from  Allen 
county,  Ohio,  in  1892,  and  they  also  have  had  three  children:  French  A, 
Harry  D.  and  Frank  II.  Jacobs.  Mrs.  Jacobs  is  the  daughter  of 
William  D.  and  Docia  A.  (Shadley)  Williams,  the  father  a native  of 
North  Carolina  and  the  mother  of  West  Virginia.  Both  are  deceased, 
the  mother  dying  in  February,  1905,  and  the  father  in  January,  1907. 

Hon.  William  P.  Henderson,  judge  of  the  court  of  common  pleas 
of  the  Tenth  District  of  the  state  of  Ohio,  was  born  August  24,  1867, 
at  Delaware,  Ohio,  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry  both  on  Iris  father  and  his 
mother’s  side;  his  father  was  the  Rev.  Isaiah  R.  Henderson,  one  of  the 
pioneer  settlers  of  that  part  of  the  state,  whose  life  work  was  in  the 
ministry  as  a clergyman  of  the  Central  Ohio  Conference  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church;  his  mother’s  maiden  name  was  Frances  A.  Price, 
who  was  born  and  lived  prior  to  her  marriage  in  Dutchess  county,  New 
York.  His  mother  died  in  1904,  but  his  father  is  still  living  at  Colum- 
bus, Ohio. 

Judge  Henderson  received  his  early  education  in  the  public  schools, 
and  he  graduated  from  the  high  school  at  Findlay,  Ohio,  in  1884.  He 
entered  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  University  at  Delaware,  Ohio,  in  the  follow- 
ing fall,  and  was  graduated  from  that  institution  in  June,  1888.  In 
the  meantime,  in  the  course  of  his  labors  as  a Methodist  minister,  his 
father  had  been  assigned  to  Kenton,  Ohio,  and  had  taken  up  his  resi- 
dence there  with  his  family.  Before  his  graduation  from  college  Judge 
Henderson  had  begun  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  the  late  Colonel 
L.  M.  Strong  at  Kenton,  and  he  continued  his  studies  under  the  same 
tuition  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  October,  1889.  Immediately 
upon  his  admission  to  the  bar,  a partnership  was  formed  with  Colonel 
Strong,  which  continued  until  1893,  wffien  Colonel  Strong  retired  from 
active  practice,  on  account  of  declining  health  and  his  new  work  and 
responsibility  as  a member  of  congress..  Thenceforward  Judge  Hen- 
derson practiced  his  profession  in  Kenton  alone.  In  November,  1908, 
he  was  elected  to  the  common  pleas  bench  and  assumed  his  new  duties 
January  1,  1909;  he  is  still  serving  on  the  bench,  earning  and  enjoying 
in  a high  degree  the  respect  of  the  bar  and  the  confidence  of  the 
community. 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


00/ 


On  February  25,  1890,  Judge  Henderson  was  married  to  Olive  R. 
Sagebiel,  a daughter  of  Herman  and  Ruth  Sagebiel,  of  Kenton.  Two 
children  who  still  survive  were  born  of  this  marriage,  Berkeley  W.  and 
Dorcas  Mary.  Judge  Henderson’s  tastes  have  been  scholarly  and  his 
reading  and  information,  both  in  his  profession  and  in  the  fields  of 
general  literature,  are  wide  and  varied.  He  won  success  and  prominence 
as  a lawyer,  being  known  not  only  for  his  ability  in  his  profession, 
but  as  a man  of  strict  integrity  and  high  ideals, ; while  as  a writer  he  is 
vigorous,  forcible  and  precise,  with  a wide  command  of  the  English 
tongue  and  as  a public  speaker  he  has  long  been  in  frequent  demand. 

True  to  early  training  he  is  a member  of  the  First  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  at  Kenton ; in  politics  he  is  a Democrat. 

William  Gltckes,  a substantial  and  representative  farmer  of 
Blanchard  township,  where  he  owns  and  operates  a productive  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  thirty-two  acres  on  the  turn  pike,  was  born  in  Erie 
county,  Pennsylvania,  July  11,  1856.  He  is  a son  of  Jacob  and  Mar- 
guerite Guckes,  both  natives  of  Germany,  who  emigrated  to  this  country 
before  they  were  married,  locating  in  Erie  county.  There  they  Avere 
married,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  the  following  children:  John, 
Jacob,  Christian,  William,  Margaret,  Kate  and  Mary.  William  and 
Margaret,  the  latter  now  deceased,  were  the  only  two  who  removed  to 
Hardin  county. 

William  Guckes  Avas  reared  and  educated  in  his  native  state  and 
county  and  took  up  the  occupation  of  farming.  He  resided  in  Erie 
county,  Pennsylvania,  until  1876,  and  then  removed  to  Hardin  county, 
where  he  noAV  resides.  He  is  a prosperous  and  intelligent  farmer, 
with  a well-tilled  farm,  on  which  he  uses  modern  machinery.  Mr.  Guckes 
Stands  well  in  the  community,  and  takes  a commendable  interest  in 
local  public  affairs.  He  is  a member  of  the  Masonic  order  and  takes 
an  active  interest  in  the  cause  of  the  fraternity;  he  has  taken  the  high 
degree  of  Royal  Arch  Mason,  and  contemplates  further  advancement  in 
the  order. 

In  1886  Mr.  Guckes  married  Minnie  Kirchofer,  of  Hardin  county, 
and  to  them  Avere  born  four  children,  only  t.AVO  of  whom  survive ; they 
are:  Charles  R.  and  James  M.  Jacob  and  Emil  died  in  infancy.  The 
family  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Dunkirk. 

Chase  L.  Wilson,  a leading  and  progressive  farmer  of  Blanchard 
township,  was  born  in  Jackson  township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  May  12, 
1869.  He  is  a son  of  Alva  and  Lovy  (White)  Wilson,  both  natives  of 
Hancock  county,  Ohio.  In  1865  they  located  in  Hardin  county,  where 
Mr.  Wilson  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land.  By  dint  of 
hard  Avork  he  brought  this  land  to  its  present  fertility  and  high  state 
of  cultivation.  He  offered  his  services  to  his  country  in  the  Civil  war 
and  Avas  enrolled  a member  of  a company  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Eigh- 
tieth Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  served  AArith  credit  for  three  years 
and  AA^as  honorably  discharged.  Mr.  Wilson  died  in  February,  1902, 
and  his  wife  died  in  1889.  He  was  an  active  member  of  the  Grand 


Vol.  II— 8 


558 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Army  of  the  Republic.  Mr.  Wilson  and  his  wife  had  children  as  fol- 
lows: William  H.,  Wallace  W.  and  Chase  L.,  besides  one  who  died  in 
childhood. 

Chase  L.  Wilson  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native  county,  and 
chose  the  calling  of  a farmer,  in  which  line  he  has  met  with  gratifying 
success.  Before  buying  his  present  farm  he  owned  one  hundred  and 
eighty  acres  in  the  same  township,  forty  of  which  he  now  owns,  besides 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  where  lie  now  lives,  which  he  purchased 
in  1904.  His  farm  is  about  a mile  and  a half  south  of  Dunkirk,  on 
the  turnpike,  and  presents  the  appearance  of  a model  farm,  with  well 
constructed  and  substantial  buildings.  He  has  modern  conveniences 
and  owns  a beautiful  home.  He  is  universally  respected  and  esteemed 
and  is  considered  a representative,  useful  citizen. 

Mr.  Wilson  married  first  Eva  McRee,  to  whom  four  children  were 
born,  namely:  Leona,  Zola,  Blanch  and  Isabella  (deceased).  Mr.  Wil- 
son married,  on  November  25,  1904,  Blanche  0 ’Rourk,  and  to  them  has 
been  born  one  child,  Josephine. 

Jesse  Snodgrass,  M.  D. — Prominent  among  the  highly  respected 
and  best  known  physicians  of  Kenton  is  Jesse  Snodgrass,  M.  D.,  who 
has  been  here  successfully  employed  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  for 
upwards  of  forty  years,  being,  with  but  one  exception,  the  longest 
established  physician  of  this  section  of  Hardin  county.  An  Ohioan  by 
birth  and  breeding,  he  was  born,  June  7,  1841,  at  New  Concord,  Mus- 
kingum county,  being  the  oldest  of  the  family  of  five  children  born  to 
David  and  Cathrine  (Phillips)  Snodgrass.  His  father,  a native  of 
Pennsylvania,  migrated  to  Ohio  in  early  life,  settling  first  in  Muskingum 
county,  later  moving  to  Hardin  county,  where  he  worked  at  farming  and 
shoemaking. 

But  five  years  of  age  when  his  parents  located  in  Kenton,  Jesse 
Snodgrass  was  here  educated  primarily,  completing  the  course  of  study 
in  the  common  and  high  schools.  In  1860  he  began  the  study  of  medicine, 
attending  lectures  at  the  Starling  Medical  College.  In  1862,  inspii’ed 
by  patriotic  zeal,  he  enlisted  as  a private  in  Company  H,  Seventy-fourth 
Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served  for  thirteen  months,  when,  on 
account  of  physical  disability,  he  was  honorably  discharged.  Being,  in 
August,  1863,  made  assistant  surgeon  of  the  Eighth  Tennessee  Volunteer 
Infantry,  he  served  in  that  capacity  until  the  close  of  the  conflict,  being 
discharged  in  July,  1865.  In  the  autumn  of  that  year  he  entered  the 
Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  College,  at  New  York  City,  and  in  1867  was 
there  graduated  with  the  degree  of  M.  D.  Dr.  Snodgrass  immediately 
settled  as  a practitioner  in  Kenton,  until  1871  being  in  partnership  with. 
Dr.  W.  H.  Phillips.  He  subsequently  practiced  alone  until  1908,  when 
he  admitted  to  partnership  his  son,  W.  C.  Snodgrass,  M.  D.  For  many 
years  the  Doctor  has  enjoyed  a large  and  lucrative  general  practice  in 
this  place,  his  natural  talents,  skill  and  varied  experience  classing  him 
among  the  more  successful  physicians  of  the  city. 

Dr.  Snodgrass  has  been  twice  married.  He  married  first,  June  10, 
1869,  Emily  Coggshall,  who  died  December  4,  1877,  leaving  one  son,  W. 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


559 


C.  Snodgrass,  M.  D.  The  Doctor  married,  second,  February  25,  1885, 
Lillian  Dunn,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  two  children,  Helen  and 
Catherine. 

Dr.  Snodgrass  is  a member  of  numerous  societies,  including  the 
Hardin  County,  the  Northwestern  Ohio,  the  Ohio  State  and  the  American 
Medical  Societies.  Fraternally  he  is  prominent  in  the  Masonic  order, 
belonging  to  the  lodge,  chapter,  and  eommandery;  is  a member  of  the 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks ; of  the  Loyal  Legion ; and  of 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  In  politics  he  is  a stanch  Republican, 
but  has  never  been  an  office  seeker,  his  time  and  energies  having  been 
devoted  to  the  duties  of  his  profession. 

William  M.  Beckman. — To  William  M.  Beckman  belongs  the  credit 
of  giving  to  Kenton  and  Hardin  county  the  first  permanent  daily  news- 
paper, for  the  paper  he  established  can  scarcely  be  said  to  belong  to 
Kenton  alone.  He  also  founded  the  Kenton  Graphic-News,  a weekly  sheet 
that  immediately  found  favor  with  the  people  and  enjoyed  a large  cir- 
culation. No  citizen  of  the  county  did  more  for  the  printing  business 
both  before  and  after  he  consolidated  the  Daily  News  with  the  Kenton 
Republican  than  he  did. 

Mr.  Beckman  was  born  in  Tiffin,  Ohio,  May  21,  1860,  and  at  a very 
early  age  came  to  Kenton  where  the  rest  of  his  life  was  spent.  He  gradu- 
ated from  the  public  schools  of  this  city,  in  1878,  and  shortly  afterwards 
was  called  to  a place  in  the  office  of  the  Hardin  County  Republican,  then 
owned  by  A.  W.  Miller.  Mr.  Beckman  always  said  his  taking  up  the 
printing  pusiness  was  due  to  an  accident,  but  he  faithfully  performed 
every  duty  that  came  to  his  hand  then  and  always.  Mr.  Miller  was 
ill  and  away  from  the  office  much  of  the  time  and  the  illness  resulted  in 
his  death  February  17,  1880,  when  Mr.  Beckman  was  made  manager  of 
the  plant.  Later,  when  George  W.  Rutledge  bought  out  the  Republican, 
Mr.  Beckman  resigned  his  position  for  a time  and  taught  school  at  Bate- 
son school  in  Cessna  township.  He  also  worked  for  David  Fisher  in  the 
Democrat  office,  but  his  real  newspaper  work  began  with  the  founding  of 
the  Daily  New's.  He  owned  and  operated  a job  printing  office  in  a room 
on  the  west  side  of  the  square  upstairs,  which  he  purchased  from  Robert 
McCurdy  in  1883,  and  which  he  afterwards  moved  to  the  room  over 
Held’s  tin  store.  But  with  the  establishment  of  his  printing  office  in 
the  Paulucci  room  on  West  Franklin  street  in  1889  the  real  work  of  his 
life  began. 

A Kenton  company  had  founded  a little  paper  called  “The  Common 
People,”  which  Mr.  Beckman  printed  for  them  on  his  press,  but  it  was 
not  a financial  success  and  was  allowed  to  die  out.  When  this  was  dis- 
continued Mr.  Beckman  and  Harry  Edsell  founded  the  Kenton  Daily 
News,  which  was  a non-partisan  paper,  and  which  started  off  at  once 
with  a large  subscription  list.  This  was  in  1890,  and  late  in  the  same 
year  the  Kenton  Graphic-News  was  founded  by  the  same  publishers. 
Some  years  later  the  plant  was  visited  by  a disastrous  fire,  but  the  enter- 
prising publishers  quickly  recovered  from  this  blow.  In  1896  Mr. 
Edsell  retired  from  the  business  to  go  west,  and  the  same  year  Mr. 


560 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Beckman  purchased  the  Hardin  County  Republican  plant,  which  was 
then  running  two  papers/' The  Hardin  County  Republican,”  a weekly 
and  the  “ Kenton  Daily  Republican.”  He  moved  the  stock  and  equip- 
ment to  the  “News-Republican”  office,  and  there  consolidated  the  two 
dailies  under  the  name  of  “The  News-Republican,’'  under  which  it  is 
still  issued.  He  continued  both  weekly  papers,  one  Republican  in 
politics  and  the  other  non-partisan. 

The  newspapers  soon  outgrew  their  quarters,  and  in  1903,  the  pres- 
ent commodious  structure  at  the  corner  of  Main  and  Ohio  streets  was 
put  up  for  a permanent  home  for  the  business.  Just  as  moving  from 
the  old  quarters  had  begun,  a fire  almost  completely  destroyed  the  new 
building,  entailing  a great  loss  upon  the  company.  The  following 
spring  the  building  was  completed,  and  from  it  the  various  publications 
have  since  been  issiied  by  the  Kenton  Republican  Company,  which  was 
incorporated  in  1903.  For  some  years  Mr.  George  E.  Crane  had.  owned 
a share  of  the  stock,  but  in  1903  he  disposed  of  his  interests  to  Mr.  F. 
B.  Wilson,  and  later  Mr.  Wilson  purchased  another  one-fourth  share, 
making  him  half  owner  of  the  plant.  In  1907,  on  account  of  failing 
health,  Mr.  Beckman  retired  from  the  business  which  he  had  built  up 
and  had  so  ably  conducted  for  many  years. 

Though  of  a modest  retiring  disposition,  Mr.  Beckman  was  a shrewd 
business  man  and  an  able  editor.  He  entered  the  newspaper  field  when 
bitter  personalities  were  the  order  of  the  day,  but  though  made  the 
target  for  personal  abuse  many  times,  he  never  stooped  to  reply  to  any 
of  the  unfair  attacks.  He  held  his  papers  above  petty  spite  and  mean 
personalities,  often  against  the  advice  of  his  best  friends,  but  in  time 
people  came  to  see  that  he  had  adopted  the  wisest  course.  He  kept 
himself  clear  from  all  warring  factions,  and  gave  to  his  patrons  a clean, 
well  edited  family  newspaper  that  still  enjoys  the  confidence  of  the 
public.  Almost  from  youth  he  was  in  delicate  health,  yet  he  possessed 
an  unlimited  capacity  for  hard  work,  and  was  ever  of  a hopeful  dispo- 
sition. If  his  body  could  have  kept  pace  with  his  ever  alert,  brilliant 
mind,  there  is  no  doubt  that  his  achievements  would  have  been  greater, 
but  as  it  was  he  built  up  one  of  Kenton ’s  most  flourishing  enterprises 
in  spite  of  ill  health.  He  was  always  optimistic,  cheery  and  busy, 
never  allowing  his  personal  feelings  to  appear  in  his  actions  and  words. 
His  life  was  one  long  struggle  with  disease,  yet  with  all  he  accom- 
plished more  than  many  men  in  vigorous  health. 

For  several  years  Mr.  Beckman  spent  the  winters  in  El  Paso, 
Texas,  with  his  family,  finding  the  altitude  and  bracing  climate  just 
suited  to  his  needs,  but  as  he  improved  in  health  year  by  year  he  thought 
to  carry  out  a long  cherished  plan  of  tourng  Europe,  with  his  mother 
and  sisters.  His  health  was  so  much  improved  that  he  had  made  plans 
to  re-enter  the  business  world,  but  before  doing  this  a sojourn  abroad 
lasting  nearly  a year  was  planned,  beginning  with  a winter  in  Naples 
On  December  8,  1909,  the  family  sailed  for  Naples,  arriving  there  on 
the  day  before  Christmas.  The  climate  proved  too  harsh  for  Mr. 
Beckman,  and  in  January  they  started  back  to  America.  The  entire 
journey  brought  much  suffering  to  him,  but  he  reached  El  Paso  Feb- 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


561 


ruary  8,  and  was  taken  at  once  to  a hospital  for  treatment.  The  hard 
winter  and  progress  of  the  disease  while  traveling  were  too  much  for 
his  delicate  frame,  and  his  brave  spirit  took  its  flight  two  days  after 
reaching  El  Paso — February  10,  1910.  His  body  was  brought  to  his 
old  home  and  buried  beside  that  of  his  wife  in  Grove  Cemetery.  Mrs. 
Beckman,  who  was  Miss  Jennie  Coe,  was  married  to  him  in  October, 
1887,  and  died  in  Kenton,  February  28,  1889.  Nearly  fifty  years  Wil- 
liam Beckman  lived  and  worked  in  Kenton,  a short  life  after  all,  but  he 
left  an  enduring  monument  in  the  papers  which  he  founded  and  the 
memory  of  a life  well  spent. 

Ira  N.  Kelly  is  numbered  among  the  successful  and  progressive 
agriculturists  of  Washington  township,  and  he  is  also  a member  of  a fam- 
ily who  were  among  the  earliest  pioneers  of  Ohio,  his  great-grandfather 
on  the  paternal  side,  Joseph  Kelly,  having  come  to  this  state  from  Lancas- 
ter, Pennsylvania,  in  1795.  Andrew  S.  Kelly,  the  father  of  Ira,  born  in 
Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  moved  to  Hancock  county  of  this  state  in  1853 
and  to  Hardin  county  in  1872.  He  served  his  country  three  years  as  a 
Civil  war  soldier,  as  a private  with  Company  F,  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry 
and  with  Sherman  on  his  celebrated  march  to  the  sea.  He  served 
faithfully  and  well  as  a soldier,  and  after  his  honorable  discharge  at  the 
close  of  the  war  he  returned  to  peaceful  citizenship  and  to  the  work  of 
the  farm.  His  death  occurred  in  the  year  of  1907,  and  his  wife  passed 
away  in  1891.  She  was  in  her  maidenhood  Susannah  Yates,  and  was 
horn  in  Hancock  county,  Ohio,  in  1836.  Nine  children  were  born  of 
their  marriage  union,  namely : George  E.,  superintendent  of  schools 

at  Krydersville,  Ohio ; Estella,  Mrs.  Patterson ; Sadie,  Mrs.  Kenode ; 
William  IT.  and  Samuel  M.,  both  druggists  in  Wellston,  this  state;  Joseph 
A.,  of  Ada;  Mark  B.,  a cigar  dealer  at  that  place;  and  June,  deceased, 
and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 

Ira  N.  Kelly,  one  of  the  sons  in  the  above  family  and  now  one  of  the 
representative  farmers  of  Washington  township,  has  since  19U1  owned  a 
splendidly  improved  estate  of  seventy -six  acres  but  which  in  January, 
1910,  he  sold  and  bought  in  Trumbull  county.  He  was  born  in  Hancock 
county,  Ohio,  in  1857,  but  he  was  reared  and  educated  in  the  city  of  Ada, 
attending  the  university  there,  but  previously  he  had  taught  school.  He 
continued  his  educational  labors  after  leaving  the  university,  teaching 
for  twenty  years  in  Hardin  county.  In  1890  he  was  made  the  deputy 
recorder  for  Hardin  county,  serving  in  that  office  until  1893,  and  in  1900 
he  was  appointed  to  that  office  and  served  for  one  and  a half  years.  He 
has  also  filled  various  township  positions,  was  formerly  a justice  of  the 
peace  and  has  also  been  a township  clerk.  His  name  is  thus  prominently 
recorded  on  the  pages  of  the  history  of  Hardin  county,  and  he  has 
proved  a true  and  valued  citizen. 

In  1879  Mr.  Kelly  was  married  to  Miss  Margaret  E.,  a daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Rachel  Carey,  and  although  their  marriage  union  has  been 
without  issue  they  have  an  adopted  son  and  daughter,  the  former  being 
Carl  F.  Carey  and  the  latter  Fredea  Willike.  Mrs.  Kelly  was  born  in 
Liberty  township  of  Hardin  county  in  1861.  Both  she  and  her  husband 


562 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


are  members  of  the  Methodist  Protestant  church,  active  in  its  work  and 
upbuilding,  and  Mr.  Kelly  has  served  his  religious  home  as  a class  leader, 
trustee  and  as  a Sunday  school  superintendent.  He  is  also  prominently 
identified  with  the  fraternal  order  of  Odd  Fellows  at  Dunkirk,  both  he 
and  his  wife  being  also  connected  with  its  auxiliary,  the  Rebekahs,  and 
Mr.  Kelly  is  a past  noble  grand  of  the  order. 

Alonzo  Lynch,  a retired  business  man  now  living  in  Kenton,  Ohio, 
was  until  a few  years  ago  extensively  interested  in  buying  and  selling 
stock.  Mr.  Lynch  was  born  in  Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  July  4,  1828,  a 
son  of  George  and  Hannah  (Brown)  Lynch,  the  former  a native  of 
Pennsylvania.  George  Lynch  moved  from  Pennsylvania  and  located 
at  Zanesville,  Ohio,  bringing  with  him  the  first  furnace  ever  brought  to 
that  part  of  the  state.  In  the  spring  of  1833  he  and  his  wife  settled  in 
Blanchard  township,  Hardin  county,  where  they  purchased  eighty  acres 
of  land  in  the  timber.  Mr.  Lynch  began  clearing  his  land  and  erected 
a small  log  hut  for  the  family  to  live  in.  He  was  an  industrious  and 
enterprising  farmer  and  met  with  fair  success,  meeting  and  overcoming 
the  obstacles  incident  to  pioneer  life  at  that  time. 

The  childhood  of  Alonzo  Lynch  was  spent  on  his  father’s  farm,  and 
when  he  grew  old  enough  he  helped  with  the  work  of  carrying  on  the 
farm.  He  engaged  in  the  stock  business  as  a young  man  and  during  the 
war  he  bought  horses  for  the  government.  Later  he  engaged  in  contract 
work  for  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company,  building  culverts  and 
bridges.  He  was  a good  workman  and  became  well  informed  in  con- 
struction work.  He  also  took  contracts  for  building  pike  roads  in 
Hardin  and  Hancock  counties,  building  the  first  pike  in  the  latter  county. 
He  has  probably  built  more  of  these  roads  than  any  one  else  in  Hardin 
county,  and  was  well  known  for  the  superior  quality  of  work  he  accom- 
plished. As  a boy  he  carried  United  States  mail  two  times  a week 
from  Bellefontaine  to  Findlay,  making  the  trip  on  horseback.  He 
became  a prominent  and  well  known  citizen,  and  stood  well  in  the 
community. 

In  March,  1853,  Alonzo  Lynch  married  Charlotte  Rush,  daughter  of 
Job  and  Ruth  (Williams)  Rush,  who  came  to  Hardin  county  from 
Uniontown,  Pennsylvania,  about  1850.  Mr.  Lynch  inherited  the  old 
homestead,  which  comprised  two  hundred  acres  and  he  lived  until  1881 
near  Dunkirk,  owning  several  different  farms  during  those  years  of  his 
active  life.  He  then  rented  his  farm  and  moved  to  Kenton,  where  he 
embarked  in  the  livery  business  on  the  south  side  of  the  square.  Here 
lie  conducted  his  business  a number  of  years,  then  rented  it,  and  in  1894 
sold  his  interest.  However,  he  still  continued  in  the  stock  business,  and 
being  an  excellent  judge  of  horses,  he  bought  a good  many  thoroughbreds 
and  shipped  from  Kentucky,  building  up  a good  business  in  this  line. 
He  also  purchased  a large  number  of  shorthorn  cattle  each  year  and  dis- 
posed of  them  in  Hardin  county  and  other  parts  of  the  state.  He  did 
a great  deal  to  introduce  pure  blood  stock  into  the  county,  and  in  this 
did  a good  service  to  farmers  and  stockmen.  About  four  years  ago 
Mr.  Lynch  retired  from  business  and  sold  his  farm.  He  is  a stanch 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


563 


Republican  and  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in  public  affairs.  He 
and  his  wife  became  the  parents  of  seven  children,  of  whom  sis  survive. 
Mrs.  Lynch  died  in  1896,  at  the  age  of  sixty-one  years.  Both  she  and 
her  husband  made  many  friends  and  became  highly  respected  and 
esteemed.  Mr.  Lynch  earned  his  success  in  life  through  his  own  efforts 
and  ambition,  taking  advantage  of  every  opportunity  offered  him  for 
business  success  and  advancement,  and  has  well  earned  the  rest  he  now 
enjoys. 

Thomas  Espy. — The  late  Thomas  Espy  was  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent and  influential  citizens  of  Hardin  county,  and  was  interested  in 
many  enterprises.  Mr.  Espy  was  born  in  New  Darlington,  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania,  May  12,  1837,  and  was  a son  of  John  and  Jane 
(Anderson)  Espy,  both  also  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  The  progenitor 
of  the  Espy  family  in  America  emigrated  from  the  north  of  Ireland  in 
colonial  days. 

John  Espy  moved  to  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  in  1838,  when  his  son 
Thomas  was  but  one  year  old.  In  1810  he  located  in  Kenton,  and  three 
years  later  erected  the  first  steam  flouring  mill  in  the  town,  on  the 
present  site  of  the  T.  & 0.  C.  railroad  depot.  He  became  one  of  the  lead- 
ing citizens  and  was  a successful  business  man.  Mr.  Espy  died  in  1878 ; 
his  widow  survived  him  many  years  and  passed  away  in  1907. 

Thomas  Espy  received  his  early  education  in  Kenton  schools,  and  in 
1856  took  a commercial  course  at  Northwood,  Ohio,  and  in  1861  entered 
the  Cincinnati  Law  School  and  was  afterwards  admitted  to  the  bar. 
However,  he  did  not  enter  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession,  preferring 
a commercial  career,  for  which  he  considered  he  was  better  fitted.  In 
1861  he  began  working  with  his  father  in  the  mill  and  in  1866,  with 
William  Ochs,  built  the  present  White  flour  mill,  becoming  president  of 
the  concern.  In  1855  Mr.  Espy  was  appointed  deputy  county  treasurer, 
under  Dr.  U.  P.  Leighton,  and  assisted  in  taking  the  first  tax  ever  col- 
lected at  the  present  courthouse.  In  1871  he  became  interested  in  the 
Paullucci  Bank,  and  two  years  later  became  cashier  of  the  Hardin 
County  Savings  Bank.  In  1878,  at  the  organizing  of  the  First  National 
Bank,  Mr.  Espy  became  a director. 

Mr.  Espy  was  one  of  the  promoters  of  the  Erie  Railroad,  and  in 
1868  became  one  of  the  promoters  of  a railroad  to  run  from  Pittsburg, 
Pennsylvania,  to  Huntington,  Indiana,  and  to  pass  through  Kenton,  and 
when  the  road  was  completed  he  became  one  of  the  directors.  He  was 
connected  with  the  road  until  it  was  purchased  by  the  Erie  system.  He 
and  General  James  Robinson  built  the  connecting  link  between  Marion 
and  Kenton.  Mr.  Espy  was  also  one  of  the  promoters  of  the  Kenton 
Gas  & Electric  Company,  being  its  first  president  and  actively  connected 
with  it  until  a few  years  since.  He  also  became  one  of  the  pike  commis- 
sioners, under  whom  the  first  pike  in  the  county  was  constructed.  He 
was  also  one  of  the  promoters  of  the  first  water  works  system.  For  over 
twenty  years  he  served  as  treasurer  of  Buck  township.  In  1902  Mr. 
Espy  became  identified  with  the  Gas  & Electric  Company  of  Toledo,  and 
became  general  manager  of  the  same ; they  have  plants  at  Tiffin,  Delphos 


564 


HISTORY  OF  IIARDIN  COUNTY 


and  New  Bremen.  In  1858  he  became  a member  of  the  Masonic  Order, 
and  he  helped  build  the  Epworth  Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  South 
Kenton,  being  a trustee  of  the  organization.  He  always  voted  the 
Democratic  ticket  and  took  an  active  interest  in  public  affairs. 

In  1870  Mr.  Espy  married  Miss  Sallie  Johnson,  who  was  then  a 
teacher  in  the  public  schools  of  Kenton,  a daughter  of  David  E.  and  Jane 
(Pancake)  Johnson,  the  former  born  at  Chester,  Butler  county,  near 
Cincinnati,  and  the  latter  in  the  village  of  Cross  Roads,  in  Madison 
county,  Ohio.  Mr.  Johnson  was  a descendant  of  Sir  Peter  Johnson,  of 
colonial  times.  Mr.  Johnson  was  married  in  September,  1846,  in  Madi- 
son county,  and  in  1861,  the  day  Fort  Sumter  was  fired  upon,  he  and  his 
wife  settled  about  two  and  a half  miles  from  the  town  of  Kenton,  where 
they  lived  a number  of  years  and  then  located  in  the  town,  where  they 
spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  Mr.  Johnson  died  on  November  11, 
1900.  His  wife,  who  was  born  July  25,  1827,  died  on  April  3,  1907, 
and  with  her  death  the  family  of  Joseph  and  Jane  Pancake,  her  parents, 
became  extinct.  Mr.  Pancake  was  a participant  in  the  war  of  1812. 
His  wife  was  a daughter  of  William  and  Martha  Wilson,  who  kept  the 
White  Horse  tavern  near  Philadelphia,  at  Catamisa,  where  General 
Washington  stopped  several  times.  Mr.  Pancake  was  born  December 
19,  1789,  in  Romney,  Virginia,  a son  of  John  Pancake,  a slave-owner,  and 
he  died  September  14,  1853;  his  wife  died  July  30,  1864. 

Thomas  Espy  and  His  wife  became  the  parents  of  three  children, 
namely:  Miss  Anna,  a teacher  at  Chicopee  Falls,  Massachusetts;  Frank, 
of  Tiffin;  and  Jesse,  of  Kenton.  Mr.  Espy  was  one  of  the  enterprising 
and  public-spirited  citizens  of  Hardin  county,  and  contributed  a large 
share  towards  the  progress  and  development  of  the  town  of  Kenton,  as 
well  as  many  other  parts  of  the  state.  He  became  interested  in  a large 
number  of  enterprises,  and  his  keen  business  judgment  and  intelligence 
were  widely  appreciated.  He  was  well  informed  on  many  topics  and 
was  one  of  the  best  known  and  most  highly  esteemed  men  who  ever  lived 
in  Kenton.  He  had  a large  circle  of  friends  and  his  memory  is 
cherished  in  the  hearts  of  many.  He  was  always  ready  to  lend  his  sup- 
port to  worthy  causes,  and  was  a charitable,  kindly-disposed  member  of 
society.  His  success  in  life  was  attained  through  his  own  efforts  and 
ambition,  and  he  spent  a busy,  useful  life,  whose  deeds  will  not  soon  be 
forgotten. 

Joseph  Eberhart  is  prominently  numbered  among  the  agricultur- 
ists of  Washington  township,  Hardin  county.  He  is  a representative 
of  a prominent  old  German  family  who  formerly  wrote  the  name 
“Eberhardt,  ” and  he  is  a descendant  of  the  crown  heads  of  the  Father- 
land. The  ancestry  of  this  illustrious  family  is  traced  back  to  the  year 
1445  and  to  the  Dukes  of  Wurtemberg,  and  in  the  United  States  their 
history  goes  back  to  1727,  when  Peter  and  Michael  crossed  on  the  old 
“Friendship,”  John  Davis  master.  Landing  in  Philadelphia  on  October 
16.  1727.  they  located  in  Lehigh  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  they  formed 
the  beginning  of  a large  settlement  of  their  countrymen  there.  George 
and  Elizabeth  (Hull)  Eberhart,  the  parents  of  Joseph  and  Sarah  Ann, 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


565 


were  born  in  Stark  county,  Ohio,  and  but  two  of  their  eleven  children  are 
now  living,  and  Joseph  is  the  only  one  in  Hardin  county. 

He  was  born  in  Stark  county,  Ohio,  September  24,  1836,  and  was 
reared  and  educated  there  and  also  learned  the  carpenter’s  trade,  a 
vocation  which  he  has  followed  more  or  less  throughout  his  business 
career.  Moving  to  Hancock  county  in  1863  he  bought  a farm  of  one 
hundred  and  five  acres,  and  in  1866  came  from  there  to  Hardin  county. 
Here  he  owns  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  valuable  land  in  Washing- 
ton township,  which  he  purchased  the  year  of  his  arrival  here,  but  at  that 
time  there  was  only  twenty  acres  of  the  place  cleared.  Since  then  he  has 
made  vast  improvements  in  land  and  buildings,  his  land  being  all  under 
a fine  state  of  cultivation,  his  home  a substantial  and  commodious  struc- 
ture, and  at  this  writing  he  is  erecting  his  third  barn,  the  first  having  been 
burned  in  1893,  while  the  second  was  struck  by  lightning  in  June  of 
1909  and  also  burned,  the  first  structure  having  been  insured  for  nine 
hundred  dollars  and  the  second  for  twelve  hundred.  Mr.  Eberhart  is 
a practical  farmer  and  has  a most  desirable  home. 

He  married  Rebecca  A.  Kamp  in  1858,  and  seven  children  have  been 
born  to  them,  namely:  Alice,  deceased;  Sidney,  Clement,  Alexander, 

Clarence.  May  and  Charles  L.  They  also  have  eighteen  grandchildren 
and  four  great-grandchildren.  Mrs.  Eberhart  was  born  in  Stark 
county,  Ohio,  October  17,  1839,  a daughter  of  Jacob  and  Sarah  Kamp, 
the  former  from  England  and  the  latter  from  Pennsylvania.  Their 
children  were  twelve  in  number,  but  only  three  are  now  living,  and  Mrs. 
Eberhart  is  the  only  one  living  in  Hardin  county.  The  Eberhart 
family  are  representative  citizens  of  Hardin  county. 

Parlee  C.  Robinson,  of  the  firm  of  Robinson  & Gage,  dealers  in 
lumber,  coal,  etc.,  Kenton,  Ohio,  is  one  of  the  enterprising  business  men 
of  the  town  and  is  well  known  throughout  the  county. 

Mr.  Robinson  was  born  in  Kenton,  September  15,  1859,  youngest  of 
the  three  children  of  James  S.  Robinson,  a prominent  citizen  of  Ohio, 
who  filled  the  office  of  state  secretary  from  1886  to  1890,  and  who  early 
in  life  came. to  Hardin  county  and  took  up  his  residence  at  Kenton.  He 
was  a native  of  Richland  county,  this  state.  Parlee  C.  in  his  youth  had 
the  advantage  of  a good  education.  He  took  a four  years’  course  in  the 
Ohio  State  University,  where  he  made  a specialty  of  engineering,  after- 
ward taking  up  civil  engineering  as  a business  and  spending  several 
years  in  railroad  work.  For  three  years  he  was  employed  in  this 
capacity  on  what  is  now  the  Chicago  & Erie,  and  subsequently  was 
assistant  chief  engineer  for  the  construction  of  the  Ohio  Central  Rail- 
road and  the  Kanawha  & Michigan,  this  latter  being  now  a part  of  the 
Hocking  Valiev  Railroad.  About  this  time  his  father  having  been 
elected  to  the  office  of  state  secretary,  young  Robinson  went  to  Columbus 
and  served  as  deputy  in  that  office,  remaining  there  during  the  whole  of 
his  father’s  term.  In  1897  the  firm  of  Robinson  & Gage  was  formed, 
and  has  since  operated  a planing  mill  and  dealt  in  lumber,  coal,  etc.,  and 
to  this  business  Mr.  Robinson  has  given  his  personal  attention.  Also 
he  has  other  interests  in  the  county,  including  bank  stock  and  farm 


566 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


property.  He  is  one  of  the  directors  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Ada. 

Fraternally  he  is  identified  with  both  the  Masons  and  the  Elks, 
being  especially  active  and  influential  in  the  latter  organization. 

T.  J.  Dickinson. — One  of  the  successful  and  prominent  farmers  of 
Hardin  county,  Ohio,  who  has  spent  all  his  life  in  this  occupation  is 
T.  J.  Dickinson,  who  is  well  known  throughout  most  of  the  county.  Mr. 
Dickinson  was  born  in  Andrew  county,  Missouri,  in  1845,  and  is  a son 
of  Nelson  and  Mary  A.  (Corwin)  Dickinson,  both  natives  of  Logan 
county,  Ohio,  who  were  married  in  1838.  In  1842  Nelson  Dickinson 
and  his  wife  moved  to  Andrew  county,  Missouri,  where  they  spent  about 
eight  years  and  then  returned  to  Logan  county.  In  1860  they  removed 
to  Hardin  county,  settling  north  of  Ridgeway,  where  Mr.  Dickinson 
purchased  a farm  of  eight  hundred  and  seventy-five  acres,  paying 
twenty-seven  dollars  an  acre  for  the  land,  with  the  machinery  and  stock 
included.  They  lived  here  about  eight  years  and  then  returned  to 
Logan  county,  where  they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  Mr. 
Dickinson  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine  years  and  his  wife  died  in 
1894,  aged  seventy-four  years.  They  were  the  parents  of  twelve  chil- 
dren, of  whom  all  survive  save  one  son,  George,  who  died  in  January, 
1910,  at  the  age  of  sixtv-nine  years. 

T.  J.  Dickinson  has  always  followed  farming  and  stock  raising, 
and  has  also  bought  and  shipped  stock  extensively,  being  the  oldest  stock- 
man  in  Hardin  county.  Some  five  years  since  he  rented  his  farm  and 
purchased  a handsome  residence  on  West  Carroll  Street  in  Kenton,  and 
two  years  later  he  sold  his  one  hundred  and  sixty-five  acre  farm.  How- 
ever, he  has  continued  to  buy  and  ship  stock,  and  some  two  years  since 
purchased  a three  hundred  and  twenty  acre  rice  farm  in  Matagorda 
county,  Texas.  He  rents  this  farm  and  has  raised  one  crop  on  it,  from 
which  he  reaped  a very  handsome  profit.  He  wras  also  interested  in  one 
of  the  local  banks  of  Hardin  county,  but  has  since  sold  his  interest.  He 
is  one  of  the  enterprising,  representative  men  of  Kenton,  and  is  recog- 
nized as  a man  of  sound  judgment  and  good  business  principles.  He 
takes  an  active  interest  in  public  affairs  and  is  a Republican  in  political 
views.  He  served  one  term  as  county  commissioner,  and  at  the  expira- 
tion of  this  term  was  appointed  to  fill  a vacancy. 

In  1867  Mr.  Dickinson  married  Caroline  Bird,  of  Union  county, 
Ohio,  daughter  of  Gorum  and  Arsidola  (Scott)  Bird,  the  former  a 
native  of  New  York  state  and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  After  their  marriage 
Mr.  Bird  and  his  wife  moved  to  Union  county,  in  1834,  where  they  lived 
the  remainder  of  their  lives.  Mr.  Dickinson  and  his  wife  became  the 
parents  of  six  children,  namely:  Arsodillo,  deceased;  Wilson  E.,  now 

living  in  the  state  of  Washington  ; Emma,  now  the  wife  of  W.  T.  Eaton; 
Delpho,  the  wife  of  Harry  Tittsworth ; the  fifth  child  died  unnamed ; and 
Bertha,  now  the  wife  of  William  McEllheny.  The  family  attend  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Adam  Brown. — Among  the  most  extensive  farmers  of  McDonald 
township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  is  Adam  Brown,  who  owns  a fine  farm  of 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


567 


two  hundred  and  fourteen  acres,  where  he  carried  on  general  farming 
and  has  met  with  excellent  success.  Mr.  Brown  is  one  of  the  influential, 
representative  citizens  of  the  county,  is  well  known  and  universally 
esteemed.  He  was  born  in  Union  county,  Ohio,  October  13,  1858,  a 
son  of  Josiah  M.  and  Margaret  Jane  (Basil)  Brown,  the  former  born  on 
Big  Darby  in  Unionville,  Ohio,  August  25,  1835,  and  the  latter  born  in 
Lincoln  county,  September  12,  1833.  Josiah  M.  Brown  was  a soldier 
in  the  Civil  war,  enlisting  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-first  Ohio, 
in  1861,  as  private.  He  served  as  private  throughout  the  war  and  was 
mustered  out  in  1865.  He  and  his  wife  moved  to  Hardin  county 
immediately  after  the  close  of  his  service,  July  4,  1865,  locating  in  Taylor 
Creek  township,  where  he  purchased  forty-eight  acres.  Three  years 
later  he  removed  to  Hickory  Grove.  He  died  on  May  6,  1882,  and  his 
widow  died  on  March  3,  1893.  They  were  married  January  10,  1856, 
and  to  them  were  born  nine  children,  including  George  A.,  Hester  Jane, 
William,  Charles,  Aaron,  Samuel  and  Mary  Lizzie.  George  A.  was 
born  September  28,  1861,  and  died  March  30,  1874,  being  killed  by  a 
falling  tree  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years,  six  months  and  twelve  days. 
Hester  J.  was  born  January  8,  1866,  and  died  June  15,  1909.  Charles 
was  born  December  28,  1870,  and  resides  in  Zanesfield.  Aaron,  born 
November  27,  1872,  lives  in  Taylor  Creek.  Samuel,  born  April  20, 
1875,  died  in  infancy.  Mary  L.,  born  June  3,  1876,  lives  in  Taylor 
Creek  township. 

The  boyhood  of  Adam  Brown  was  spent  in  Taylor  Creek,  and  he 
attended  the  district  school  of  his  neighborhood.  He  afterward  took  up 
the  trade  of  carpenter,  beginning  to  work  at  the  same  in  1881,  and  he 
followed  the  trade  twenty-seven  years  in  connection  with  farming. 
Politically  he  is  a Democrat,  and  he  never  aspired  to  public  office,  though 
he  takes  an  active  interest  in  public  affairs. 

On  June  21,  1881,  Mr.  Brown  married  Tabitha  C.  Kissling,  daughter 
of  Hiram  Kissling,  who  resides  in  Hardin  county,  and  his  wife,  Mary 
Ann  (Spencer)  Kissling,  deceased.  Mrs.  Brown  is  one  of  seven  children 
namely:  John,  Mary,  William,  Alta  J.,  Nettie  M.,  and  Gertrude  (oldest 
of  the  family  and  half-sister  to  the  others).  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown 
fourteen  children  have  been  born,  as  follows : Floyd  II.,  born  September 
14,  1882,  married  Eva  Arbogast,  and  they  reside  in  Logan  county; 
Grover  C.  of  McDonald  township,  born  September  9,  1884,  married 
Carrie  Fleece,  and  they  have  one  child,  Albert  J. ; Frank  K.,  born  Decem- 
ber 12,  1886,  is  unmarried  and  lives  at  home,  where  he  assists  in  the  duties 
of  the  farm ; Alta  J.,  born  March  1,  1888,  married  Chester  Deardorff, 
who  was  killed  at  Bellefontaine  July  9,  1909,  by  a street  car,  leaving  one 
child,  Herbert;  Carrie  M.,  born  May  19,  1889,  unmarried  and  living  at 
home;  Blanch,  born  March  26,  1891,  living  at  home;  Emma  V.,  born 
July  5,  1892 ; Mary  L.,  born  October  25,  1893 ; Opal  C.,  born  December 
26,  1894;  William  J.,  born  March  18,  1897;  Mattie  C.,  born  September 
20,  1898;  Golda,  born  June  3,  1900,  died  November  26,  1900,  aged  five 
months  and  twenty-three  days ; Ruth,  born  October  23,  1901 ; and  Edgar 
E.,  born  January  21,  1904. 

Mr.  Brown  first  purchased  forty  acres  in  Union  county,  which  he 


568 


HISTORY  OF  IIARDIN  COUNTY 


owned  and  conducted  for  ten  years,  then  traded  it  for  ninety-three  acres 
in  Logan  county,  which  he  owned  four  years,  then  traded  it  for  his 
present  farm  in  Hardin  county. 

Professor  Charles  B.  Wright. — Talented  and  cultured,  and  the 
possessor  of  much  business  and  executive  ability,  Professor  Charles  B. 
Wright,  corresponding  secretary  of  the  Ohio  Northern  University,  has 
been  connected  with  the  educational  institution  for  a score  of  years, 
and  is  numbered  among  the  more  prominent  and  influential  citizens  of 
Ada.  A native  of  Ohio,  he  was  born,  June  1,  1866,  in  Licking  county, 
near  Johnstown,  coming  from  honored  New  England  ancestry.  He 
remained  on  the  home  farm  until  seventeen  years  of  age.  He  after- 
wards attended  school  two  years,  and  then,  until  1888,  taught  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  county.  Going  then  to  Bueyrus,  Mr. 
Wright  attended  Baldwin  Academy  a year,  taking  a special  course  in 
bookkeeping  and  commercial  studies.  Taking  up  his  residence  in  Ada 
on  August  13,  1889,  Mr.  Wright  entered  the  Ohio  Northern  University, 
where  he  continued  his  studies  two  years.  In  1891  he  entered  the 
commercial  department  of  the  university  as  an  instructor,  and  in  1904 
was  made  corresponding  secretary  of  the  institution,  a position  which  he 
has  since  filled  most  ably  and  acceptably,  in  the  meantime  having  also 
charge  of  all  the  advertising  connected  with  the  university. 

Professor  Wright  has  been  twice  married.  He  married  first, 
December  25,  1895,  lone  Dukes,  a daughter  of  Eli  Dukes,  and  a niece  of 
the  donor  of  Dukes’  Building.  She  died  in  1903,  leaving  two  children, 
Robert  and  Helen.  The  Professor  married  for  his  second  wife,  in  1905, 
Gladys  Cartwright,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Ethelind.  A Repub- 
lican in  politics,  Professor  Wright  is  a member  of  the  board  of  education 
of  Ada,  of  which  he  has  been  president  four  years.  Fraternally  he  is 
one  of  the  more  prominent  and  active  members  of  Richie  Lodge,  No. 
241,  K.  of  P.,  which  he  represented  as  a delegate  in  the  Grand  Lodge 
for  six  years,  for  five  years  serving  as  chairman  of  the  mileage  and  per 
diem  committee.  Religiously  he  is  a consistent  and  valued  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  The  Professor  has  accumulated  a 
good  property,  owning  a fine  home  in  Ada  and  a farm  of  two  hundred 
acres  near  McComb,  Hancock  county. 

Darlington  B.  Nourse,  of  the  firm  of  Nourse  & Caine,  dry  goods 
merchants  of  Kenton,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Fairfield  county,  this  state, 
February  11,  1858.  The  Nourses  were  Maryland  people.  Charles 

Nourse  and  John  D.  Nourse,  grandfather  and  father  respectively  of 
Darlington  B.  came  from  Sharpsburg,  Maryland,  to  Ohio  when  the 
latter  was  a youth  of  twelve  years,  and  settled  at  Rushville  in  Fairfield 
county.  There  he  grew  to  manhood,  and  married  Miss  Catherine  Berry, 
a native  of  New  Salem,  that  county.  By  profession  he  was  a physician 
and  surgeon,  and  was  in  active  practice  for  nearly  fifty  years,  up  to 
the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  at  the  age  of  seventy  years.  His 
wife  also  lived  to  be  seventy.  They  were  the  parents  of  four  children, 
two  of  whom  reached  maturity  and  are  still  living,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  and  John  H.,  a traveling  salesman,  of  Lancaster,  Ohio. 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


569 


Darlington  B.  Nourse  was  reared  in  Reynoldsburg,  Ohio,  receiv- 
ing his  education  in  the  academy  of  that  place.  At  the  age  of  twenty 
he  began  life  as  a clerk  in  the  dry  goods  store  of ‘A.  Stutson,  of  Lancaster, 
and  remained  with  him  about  five  years ; afterward,  for  eleven  years, 
was  with  Green  Joyce  & Company,  of  Columbus,  Ohio,  one  year  as 
• house  salesman  and  ten  years  on  the  road.  In  1893  he  bought  an  in- 
terest with  IB  E.  Becker  & Company,  dry  goods  dealers  of  Lancaster, 
and  was  there  until  1901.  That  year  he  sold  c*it  and  in  August  came 
to  Kenton.  Here,  in  partnership  with  Mr.  J.  W.  Caine,  he  bought  out 
H.  C.  Roller ’s  dry  goods  store,  and  under  the  firm  name  of  Nourse  & 
Caine  has  continued  "to  do  a prosperous  business.  Since  taking  up 
his  residence  in  Kenton  he  has  shown  himself  to  be  a public  spirited 
man  and  has  identified  himself  with  various  interests,  including  the 
Home  Telephone  Company,  of  which  lie  is  stockholder  and  director. 

In  1887  Mr.  Nourse  married  Miss  Margaret  Pickering,  a native  of 
Lancaster,  Ohio,  and  a daughter  of  Samuel  and  Susan  (Osenbaugh) 
Pickering.  They  have  three  children,  Catherine.  John  D.  and  Joseph 
C.  Mr.  Nourse  is  an  active  member  and  trustee  of  the ‘First  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  of  Kenton. 

George  E.  Crane.— As  one  of  the  representative  members  of  the 
bar  of  the  historic  state  of  Ohio  Mr.  Crane  is  well  entitled  to  recognition 
in  this  publication,  and  further  consistency  in  according  such  consider- 
ation is  that  implied  in  the  fact  that  he  is  a scion  of  one  of  the  old  and 
honored  pioneer  families  of  the  state  of  Ohio,  though  he  himself  is  a 
native  of  New  York  City,  where  he  was  born  on  September  9,  1858.  He 
has  be§n  engaged  m the  practice  of  his  profession  at,  Kenton,  the  at- 
tractive judicial  center  and  metropolis  of  Hardin  county,  for  a quarter 
of  a century,  and  is  known  as  an  able  and  versatile  member  of  the  bar 
of  Ohio. 

. George  E.  Crane  is  a son  of  Samuel  Ingham  Crane  and  Sophia 
Charlotte  (Buck)*  Crane,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  at  Florence, 
Erie  county,  Ohio,  on  the  20th  of  December,  1832.  and  the  latter  of  whom 
was  born  in  New  York  City  on  the  26th  of  April,  1854.  The  founder 
of  the  Crane  family  in  Ohio  was  Joel  Crane,  great-grandfather  of  him 
whose  name  initiates  this  article.  This  worthy  ancestor  and  pioneer 
came  from  Southbury,  Connecticut,  and  settled  in  Erie  county,  Ohio,  in 
1817.  He  was  a direct  descendant  of  Jasper  Crane,  of  New  Haven, 
Connecticut,  some  of  whose  descendants  had  settled  at,  Newark,  New 
Jersey,  whence  Joel  Crane  moved  to  Southbury,  Connecticut,  where,  in 
1804,  was  solemnized  his  marriage  to  Miss  Olive  Mitchell,  granddaughter 
of  Eleazar  Mitchell,  who  was  a member  of  the  committee  of  safety  during 
the  war  of  the  Revolution  and  who  had  commanded  a militia  company  at 
Fort,  Ticonderoga  in  the  French  and  Indian  war.  In  the  Revolutionary 
war  he  held  a captain’s  commission  and  served  under  General  Washing- 
ton. Eleazar  Mitchell  was  of  the  fifth  generation  in  line  of  direct 
descent  from  Matthew  Mitchell,  who  was  born  at  Halifax,  Yorkshire, 
England,  in  1590,  and  who  came  to  America  and  settled  in  Boston  in 
1635,  and  whose  son,  Rev.  Jonathan  Mitchell,  was  the  third  minister  at 


570 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Cambridge,  Masachusetts,  1649-1677,  having  been  graduated  in  Harvard 
College  in  1647. 

George  E.  Crane  passed  his  boyhood  and  youth  in  New  York,  New 
Jersey  and  Norwalk,  Ohio,  where  he  received  his  preliminary  educational 
discipline  in  the  public  schools.  Thereafter  he  continued  his  studies 
in  Oberlin  College,  in  which  institution  he  was  graduated  as  a member  of 
the  class  of  1877,  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  After  his 
graduation  Mr.  Crane  turned  his  attention  to  the  pedagogic  profession, 
and  it  is  a matter  of  record  that  he  gave  most  effective  service  in  the 
educational  field,  having  been  principal  of  the  high  school  at  Kenton, 
his  present  home,  from  1878  to  1885,  and  having  in  the  meanwhile  taken 
up  the  study  of  law  under  effective  preceptorship.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1885,  and  has  been  continuously  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
his  profession  at  Kenton  since  that  year.  In  1879  and  1881  he  made 
extended  foreign  tours,  and  in  1899  he  again  traveled  abroad,  for  rest, 
recreation  and  pleasure.  He  is  an  able  trial  lawyer,  having  been 
identified  with  many  important  litigations  in  the  state  and  federal 
courts,  and  is,  through  his  broad  and  comprehensive  knowledge  of  juris- 
prudence, especially  well  fortified  as  a counselor.  In  1898  he  was 
appointed  referee  in  bankruptcy,  of  which  office  he  has  since  continued 
incumbent,  and  he  is  also  a member  of  the  board  of  education  of  Kenton, 
having  held  this  position  since  1897.  In  politics  he  is  a stalwart 
advocate  of  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party,  in  whose  cause  he  has 
given  active  service,  and  he  was  the  candidate  of  his  party  for  the  office 
of  judge  of  the  circuit  court  in  1898,  as  well  as  in  1908,  being  defeated 
on  each  occasion  through  normal  political  exigencies.  Mr.  Crane  is 
affiliated  with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  in  which  he  has  attained  the 
chivalric  degrees,  indicated  by  his  membership  in  the  commandery  and 
Knights  Templars,  and  he  is  also  a member  of  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  zealous  members 
of  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of  Kenton. 

On  the  12th  of  June,  1889,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Crane  to  Miss  Kate  Rachel  Rhodes,  daughter  of  Oregon  E.  and  Xiria  C. 
(Ensign)  Rhodes,  of  Kenton.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crane  have  three  children, 
concerning  whom  the  following  brief  record  is  given : Esther,  who  was 

born  in  Kenton,  Ohio,  March  10,  1890,  was  graduated  in  the  Kenton 
high  school  in  1905,  was  a student  in  Oberlin  College  in  1906-7  and  was 
graduated  in  Smith  College  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1910 ; Herbert 
Ingham  Crane,  who  was  born  in  Kenton  on  the  4th  of  May,  1892,  was 
graduated  in  the  local  high  school  in  1908,  after  which  he  passed  about 
one  year  in  historic  old  Phillips  Exeter  Academy ; Katharine  Elizabeth, 
who  was  born  at  Kenton,  January  15,  1895,  was  graduated  in  the  Kenton 
high  school  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1910.  The  family  is  one  of 
distinctive  prominence  and  popularity  in  the  social  life  of  the  commun- 
ity, and  the  attractive  home  is  a center  of  gracious  hospitality. 

Professor  Frederick  Maglott. — Among  the  most  efficient,  accom- 
plished and  valued  instructors  of  the  Ohio  Northern  University  at  Ada, 
are  Professor  Frederick  Maglott,  A.  B.  and  A.  M.,  and  his  wife,  Mrs.  Eva 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


571 


(Sisson)  Maglott,  A.  M.  and  C.  E.,  the  former  being  professor  of  history 
and  geography,  and  the  latter  the  instructor  in  higher  mathematics  and 
trigonometry. 

Professor  Frederick  Maglott,  a son  of  -Jacob  Maglott,  was  born, 
December  12,  1851,  in  Richland  county,  Ohio,  of  German  ancestry.  A 
native  of  Hesse  Darmstadt,  Germany,  Jacob  Maglott  lived  there  until 
nineteen  years  old,  when  he  came  with  his  parents,  Philip  and  Elizabeth 
Maglott,  to  Richland  county,  Ohio,  where  he  assisted  his  father  in  im- 
proving a homestead.  After  his  marriage  Jacob  Maglott  located  on 
land  in  Washington  township,  Richland  county,  and  there  cleared  and 
improved  a good  farm.  He  married  Catherine  Detwiler,  who  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  at  the  age  of  four  years  came  with  her  par- 
ents, John  and  Anna  Detwiler,  to  Richland  county,  Ohio,  where  she 
grew  to  womanhood.  Nine  children  were  born  of  their  union,  Freder- 
ick, the  subject  of  this  sketch,  being  the  eldest  child. 

Brought  up  on  the  home  farm,  Frederick  Maglott  acquired  his 
rudimentary  education  in  the  public  schools,  and  after  his  graduation 
from  the  Belleville  High  School  taught  school  for  three  terms  in  the 
rural  districts  of  Richland  county.  He  subsequently  attended  Otter- 
bein  University,  in  Westerville,  Ohio,  for  a time,  coming  from  there  to 
Ada  in  1874.  After  his  graduation  from  the  Ohio  Northern  Univers- 
ity Professor  Maglott  returned  to  Westerville  and  completed  his  studies 
at  the  Otterbein  University.  In  1876  the  Professor  began  teaching  at 
the  Ohio  Northern  University,  with  which  he  has  since  been  connected, 
having  taught  in  every  department  of  the  institution.  In  1878  he  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  A.  B.  and  two  years  later  of  A.  M.  He  was  for  many 
years  a stockholder  of  the  institution,  retaining  his  financial  interest  in 
the  institution  until  it  was  sold  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  denomination 
Professor  Maglott  is  an  active  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
being  president  of  its  board  of  trustees,  and  for  many  years  was  super- 
intendent of  its  Sunday  school. 

Professor  Maglott  married,  July  28,  1880,  Eva  Sisson,  who  was  born 
and  brought  up  in  Arkansas,  her  birth  occurring  in  1860.  She  attended 
Butler  College  one  year,  and  in  1876  entered  the  Ohio  Northern  Univers- 
ity at  Ada,  and  immediately  after  her  graduation  in  1877  accepted  a 
position  on  its  staff  of  instructors,  and  has  been  since,  a period  of  thirty- 
two  years,  one  of  its  faculty.  The  Professor  and  Mrs.  Maglott  have 
become  the  parents  of  three  children,  namely:  George  Frederick,  who 

was  graduated  from  the  Ohio  Northern  University,  is  now  taking  a 
post  graduate  course  in  Boston,  Massachusetts ; Mignon,  deceased ; and 
Donald  Sisson,  attending  the  Ohio  Northern  University. 

Mrs.  Maglott  has  won  two  degrees,  that  of  A.  M.  and  of  C.  E. 
She  is  highly  educated,  and  for  two  years  taught  Latin  and  two  years 
held  the  chair  on  science  and  literature.  She  has  held  the  position  of 
Professor  of  Mathematics  for  over  twenty  years,  and  is  now  uniting 
two  text  books  for  use  in  her  teaching.  She  is  very  active  in  social 
circles  and  prominent  in  club  life,  belonging  to  the  Daughters  of  the 
American  Revolution  at  Kenton ; to  the  American  Association  for  the 
Advancement  of  Science;  to  the  American  Mathematical  Society;  and 
is  a Fellow  of  the  National  Geographical  Society. 


572 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


George  A.  Oglesbee  is  one  of  the  substantial  and  honored  residents 
of  Lynn  township.  He  was  born  in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  December  10, 
1846,  a son  of  Isaiah  and  Sarah  (Quick)  Oglesbee,  born  respectively  in 
Greene  county,  Ohio,  and  in  New  Jersey.  They  were  married  in  Logan 
county,  Ohio,  and  came  from  there  to  Hardin  county,  where  they  lived 
in  Hale  township  for  many  years,  but  Isaiah  Oglesbee  died  in  Logan 
county. 

George  A.  Oglesbee  was  the  first  born  of  their  children,  and  he 
was  reared  on  the  parental  farm  and  received  his  educational  training 
in  the  district  schools.  During  the  opening  period  of  the  trouble 
between  the  north  and  the  south  he  enlisted  for  service  in  Company  D 
of  the  Forty-fifth  Regiment,  and  participated  in  the  hard-fought  battles 
of  Nashville,  Resaca  and  Columbia  and  started  on  the  Georgia  campaign, 
but  only  went  as  far  as  Rome  when  he  became  ill  and  was  sent  to  the 
hospital.  He  received  his  discharge  on  the  3d  of  October,  1865,  and 
he  now  draws  a pension  of  twelve  dollars  a month  from  the  government 
in  compensation  for  his  army  .services:  Since  his  marriage  in  1868 

Mr.  Oglesbee  has  lived  in  Hardin  county.  For  many  years  he  was  a 
head  sawyer  in  a mill,  and  he  own  forty-four  acres  of  land  at  the  edge  of 
West  Foraker,  where  he  resides  and  where  he  is  quite  extensively  en- 
gaged in  the  raising  of  onions.  He  gives  his  political  support  to  the 
Republican  party. 

Mrs.  Oglesbee  was  before  her  marriage  Miss  Serena  Poling,  and 
was  born  in  Allen  township,  Union  county,  Ohio,  December  10,  1850, 
a daughter  of  Solomon  and  Lucinda  (Frank)  Poling.  Lucinda 
Poling  now  lives  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Oglesbee,  having  reached  the 
age  of  eighty-nine  years.  The  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Oglesbee,  which 
occurred  on  the  10th  of  December.  1868.  has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of 
six  children:  Sarah  L.,  born  April  13,  1870;  Walter,  born  February  16, 
1872;  Minnie  M.,  born  April  10,  1874;  Ray  E.,  born  July  14,  1876; 
Jesse,  born  August  30,  1881 ; and  Earl  D.,  born  December  30,  1887. 
Mrs.  Oglesbee  is  a member  of  the  Baptist  church  at  Foraker. 

John  A.  Ewing,  one  of  the  prominent  characters  who  have  been 
identified  with  the  history  of  Hardin  county  is  found  in  the  personal 
of  John  A.  Ewing,  at  one  time  a member  of  the  board  of  commissioners 
of  his  county.  He  was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  Novem- 
ber 22,  1857,  a son  of  John  S.  and  Letitia  V.  (McElhaney)  Ewing,  the 
father  also  born  in  Lancaster  county  and  the  mother  in  the  adjoining 
county  of  Chester.  She  yet  survives  her  husband,  and  is  living  in  the 
city  of  Philadelphia.  The  founder  of  the  Ewing  family  in  America 
was  the  great-grandfather  of  John  A.  Ewing,  James  Ewing,  who  came 
from  his  native  Scotland  and  located  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania, 
where  members  of  this  family  afterward  lived  and  died  and  which  be- 
came the  birthplace  of  John  A.  Ewing. 

But  at  the  age  of  eighteen  John  A.  Ewing  came  to  Ohio  and 
located  in  Union  county,  remaining  for  two  years,  and  in  the  meantime 
working  by  the  month  in  that  and  Madison  counties.  In  1878  he  came 
to  Hardin  county,  this  being  before  his  marriage,  and  locating  at 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


573 


Ridgeway  in  Hale  township  he  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  and 
remained  there  for  three  and  a half  years.  In  1882  he  located  in  Ken- 
ton, where  for  seventeen  years  he  was  engaged  in  the  cigar,  liquor  and 
billiard  business,  and  although  so  long  identified  with  the  vocation  he 
does  not  use  tobacco  in  any  form.  He  married  on  the  19th  of  April, 
1882,  Mary  A.  Culbertson,  from  Ridgeway,  Ohio,  but  a native  daughter 
of  Logan  county.  She  was  reared  in  Hardin  county,  and  before  her 
marriage  she  taught  music.  Seven  children  blessed  their  marriage 
union,  namely:  William  C.,  a Lynn  township  farmer;  Gertrude,  the 
wife  of  Clyde  Long,  of  Kenton ; and  Prank,  Jesse  G.,  Helen  I.,  John  W. 
and  Francis,  at  home  with  their  father.  Mrs.  Ewing  was  called  from 
this  life  on  the  12th  of  January,  1899. 

In  politics  Mr.  Ewing  affiliates  with  the  Republican  party,  and  in 
November  of  1898  he  was  elected  one  of  the  three  commissioners  of 
Hardin  county,  and  by  his  re-election  to  that  office  in  1901  he  continued 
his  services  until  September  of  1905.  He  was  his  party’s  nominee  for 
auditor  in  1908,  but  met  defeat  with  the  remainder  of  the  ticket.  He 
is  a stockholder  in  the  Commercial  Bank  at  Kenton,  and  he  is  the  owner 
of  eight  hundred  and  fifty-six  acres  of  land  lying  in  Lynn,  Hale  and 
Dudley  townships.  He  also  deals  quite  heavily  in  stock,  being  both 
a raiser  and  shipper.  Mr.  Ewing  started  on  life’s  journey  for  himself 
empty  handed,  and  his  splendid  estate  represents  years  of  indefatigable 
effort  and  purposes  well  directed. 

Sanfred  II.  Dulin. — During  many  years  Sanfred  II.  Dulin  has 
been  an  honored  resident  of  Hardin  county,  one  of  its  representative 
farmers  and  business  men.  He  was  born  in  Delaware  county,  Ohio, 
April  14,  1847,  a son  of  Edward  and  Sarah  (Diltz)  Dulin.  His  grand- 
father on  the  paternal  side  was  a native  son  of  Ireland  who  came  to  the 
United  States  when  a young  man  and  located  in  Virginia,  where  he 
married.  He  later  emigrated  to  Delaware  county,  Ohio,  and  he  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life  there. 

Edward  Dulin  was  born  at  the  family  home  in  Virginia,  April  28, 
1802.  He  was  married  before  coming  to  Delaware  county,  Ohio,  and 
among  the  children  born  to  him  there  was  his  son  Sanfred,  who  grew  up 
as  a farmer  lad,  receiving  in  the  meantime  a district  school  education. 
In  the  year  of  1868  he  came  to  Hardin  county,  and  his  first  purchase  of 
land  here  was  a tract  of  eighty  acres  which  he  bought  from  his  father. 
He  now  owns  a splendid  estate  of  two  hundred  and  eigthy-five  acres,  all 
lying  within  the  boundaries  of  Lynn  township,  but  the  active  work  of  this 
farm  is  carried  on  by  his  son.  Mr.  Dulin  was  married  on  the  1st  of 
December,  1872,  to  Mary  J.  Emfield,  who  was  born  in  Franklin  county, 
Ohio,  February  23,  1856,  a daughter  of  Humphrey  and  Mary  Emfield, 
who  came  with  their  family  to  Hardin  county  in  1863  and  located  on  a 
farm  in  Lynn  township,  so  that  Mrs.  Dulin  has  lived  in  this  county 
during  the  greater  part  of  her  life.  The  following  children  have 
blessed  their  marriage  union : David  Milton,  who  was  born  January  2, 
1874,  and  married  Mamie  Henderson  of  Logan  county;  Elclora  V.,  born 
October  1,  1875,  and  now  the  wife  of  Harry  Tarlton,  of  Toledo;  Henry 

Vol.  II— 9 


574 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


E.,  born  September  15,  1878,  married  Katie  Oswell  of  Bellefontaine  and 
is  living  in  Lima,  Ohio;  Jesse  W.,  born  December  7,  1880,  is  at  home 
with  his  parents;  Sanfred  A.,  Jr.  born  September  5,  1883,  mar- 
ried Mary  Gaugh ; Ludwell  G.,  born  May  24,  1887,  is  deceased; 
Sylvester  E..  born  September  19,  1888,  is  also  at  home  with  his  parents; 
Maude  A.,  born  July  2,  1893,  is  the  wife  of  Raymond  Ruffner;  Charles 
Roscoe,  born  August  19,  1894,  is  also  deceased;  and  Neva  0.,  born  May 
3,  1896,  is  at  home  with  her  parents.  Mrs.  Didin  is  a member  of  the 
Lynn  Valley  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  is  an  active  and  efficient 
church  worker.  Mr.  Dulin  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  with  the 
Republican  party,  and  is  quite  active  in  local  political  circles. 

James  Ray  Stillings. — Thoroughly  conversant  with  the  intricacies 
and  delicate  points  of  law,  James  Ray  Stillings,  of  Kenton,  is  filling  the 
honorable  position  of  prosecuting  attorney  with  credit  and  dignity, 
discharging  the  duties  devolving  upon  him  with  marked  ability.  Com- 
ing from  pioneer  stock,  he  was  born,  August  20,  1867,  in  Kenton,  a son 
of  the  late  John  Stillings. 

John  Stillings  was  born,  reared  and  educated  in  Union  county,  Ohio. 
A man  of  scholarly  attainments,  he  entered  the  legal  profession  when  a 
young  man,  and  began  the  practice  of  law  in  Kenton.  He  met  with 
much  success,  winning  an  extensive  clientele  during  the  forty-nine 
years  of  his  practice  in  this  city,  and  at  one  time  served  as  prosecuting 
attorney.  He  died,  in  1904,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years,  his  death 
being  a loss  to  the  community  in  which  he  had  so  long  resided.  He 
belonged  to  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  was  a prominent  member  of 
the  Masonic  order.  As  a public-spirited,  intelligent  citizen,  he  took 
great  interest  in  local  affairs,  and  for  about  fifteen  years  served  on  the 
Kenton  school  board.  He  married  first  Jennie  Cantwell,  who  bore  him 
two  children,  a son  that  died  in  childhood  and  James  Ray,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch.  He  subsequently  married  Marie  Louise  Stambaugh, 
who  survives  him. 

Receiving  his  elementary  education  in  Kenton,  James  Ray  Stillings 
was  graduated  from  the  high  school  with  the  class  of  1883,  after  which 
he  attended  the  University  of  Wooster,  at  Wooster  Ohio,  for  three  years. 
When  twenty  years  of  age  he  began  the  study  of  law  with  his  father, 
and  in  1890  was  admitted  to  the  Ohio  bar.  Beginning  his  active  career 
as  a journalist,  Mr.  Stillings  was  connected  with  the  Kenton  Republican 
for  about  two  years,  after  which  he  went  west,  spending  a year  in  Kan- 
sas, working  on  different  papers.  Locating  then  in  Topeka,  Kansas, 
he  continued  his  newspaper  work  for  a time  in  that  place,  and  sub- 
sequently found  employment  on  the  Rocky  Mountain  and  San  Fran- 
cisco papers.  Returning  to  Kenton,  Mr.  Stillings  began  the  practice 
of  law  with  his  father,  continuing  the  partnership  until  the  death  of 
his  father,  since  which  time  he  has  carried  on  the  work  alone.  Acquir- 
ing prominence  in  his  profession,  he  was  elected  city  solicitor  of  Kenton 
in  1905,  re-elected  in  1907  without  opposition,  and  in  1908  was  the 
people’s  choice  for  prosecuting  attorney,  both  of  which  positions  he 
filled  for  some  months,  resigning  as  city  solicitor  in  April  of  1909. 


JOHN  STILLINGS 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


575 


A stanch  Republican  in  politics,  Mr.  Stillings  takes  an  active  inter- 
est in  party  affairs,  and  gladly  lends  his  aid  and  influence  in  promoting 
the  welfare  of  city  and  county.  He  is  a member  of  the  Ancient  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons;  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks; 
and  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  He  is  an  only  son  and  has 
never  married,  but  resides  with  his  mother,  having  a pleasant  and  con- 
genial home. 

George  W.  Bryant,  one  of  the  representative  farmers  and  highly 
respected  citizens  of  Goshen  township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  owns  and 
occupies  a fine  farm  of  two  hundred  and  twenty-four  acres.  Mr.  Bryant 
was  born  at  Fostoria,  Ohio,  January  22,  1852,  a son  of  George  W.  and 
Isabelle  (Kemp)  Bryant,  the  former  a native  of  New  York  state  and  the 
latter  of  Hancock  county,  Ohio.  During  the  Civil  war  George  W. 
Bryant,  the  father,  first  enlisted  as  a member  of  the  Twenty-first  Ohio 
Volunteer  Infantry,  for  two  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  was 
honorably  discharged.  Then  he  reenlisted  for  three  years  or  during  the 
war,  and  as  a member  of  the  Fifty-second  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry  was 
in  active  duty  until  peace  was  declared.  While  awaiting  his  discharge 
at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  he  was  stricken  with  smallpox  and  died.  Ilis 
widow  still  lives,  and  is  now  seventy-seven  years  of  age.  Of  their  four 
children  two  are  living:  Sarah  J.  and  George  W.  Those  deceased  are 
William  S.  and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 

George  W.  Bryant,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated at  Findlay,  Hancock  county,  Ohio,  and  remained  there  until  1876. 
From  that  year  until  1888  he  made  his  home  in  Marion  county,  and 
since  1888  he  has  been  a resident  of  Hardin  county,  engaged  in  farming. 
From  time  to  time  he  has  been  the  recipient  of  official  honors  and  has 
served  efficiently  in  various  local  offices.  For  a number  of  years  he 
was  township  supervisor,  for  nine  years  he  was  a justice  of  the  peace, 
and  ever  since  he  came  to  the  county  he  has  been  a member  of  the 
school  board.  He  is  a member  of  the  Maple  Grange,  and  religiously,  he 
and  his  family  are  identified  with  the  Presbyterian  church. 

On  August  20,  1874,  Mr.  Bryant  married  Miss  Ruth  C.  Terry, 
daughter  of  Champness  and  Rebecca  Terry,  and  nine  children  have  been 
born  to  them,  namely:  An  infant,  deceased;  George  E. ; William  C., 

deceased;  Charles  T. ; Nellie;  Carl  Id.;  Mabel;  John;  and  another  infant 
which  died  in  infancy. 

Mrs.  Bryant  was  born  in  Marion  county,  Ohio,  August  27,  1855. 
Her  father,  Champness  Terry,  a native  of  Virginia,  emigrated  to  Ohio 
in  1831  and  settled  in  Marion  county,  where  he  bought  five  hundred 
acres  of  land,  a portion  of  which  extended  into  Hardin  county.  On  this 
land  he  built  a log  cabin  and  in  true  pioneer  style  set  about  the  work  of 
clearing  his  farm,  which  he  accomplished  in  due  time.  The  Terrys  are 
of  English  origin.  Thomas  Terry,  the  grandfather  of  Champness,  was 
born  in  England ; in  early  life  he  came  to  America  and  settled  in  Virginia 
and  later  was  a soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  His  son  Thomas, 
Champness  Terry’s  father,  was  a slaveholder  in  Virginia;  religiously,  he 
was  a Quaker,  and,  espousing  the  Abolition  cause,  he  moved  to  Ohio  and 


576 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


freed  his  slaves.  Champness  Terry  was  twice  married.  By  his  first 
wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Anne  Thompson,  he  had  six  children, 
namely:  Thomas  J.  (deceased),  Joseph  C.,  David  D.,  John  H.,  Sarah  J. 
(deceased),  and  William  P.  (deceased).  Three  of  the  sons  were 
veterans  of  the  Civil  war — James  M.,  Luke  A.  and  David  D.  The 
last  named  was  killed  in  action.  For  his  second  wife  he  married 
Rebecca  Peters,  who  bore  him  fourteen  children,  as  follows:  Mary  A., 

James  M„  Luke  A.,  George  W.,  Ruth  C.,  Elizabeth  A.,  Zachariah,  Cath- 
erine L.,  Hannah  J.,  Magnolia,  Mack  C.,  Susan  R.,  and  two  that  died  in 
infancy.  The  mother  of  these  children  died  January  18,  1901,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-six  years,  and  Champness  Terry  died  January  13,  1887, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years.  He  was  held  in  high  respect  by  all  who 
knew  him.  For  eighteen  successive  years  he  filled  the  office  of  township 
supervisor,  and  for  several  terms  he  was  school  director.  One  of  his 
sons  by  his  first  marriage,  John  H.,  has  large  mining  interests  in  Colo- 
rado, where  he  resides,  and  where  he  has  been  honored  by  election  first 
to  the  office  of  probate  judge  and  later  to  the  office  of  judge  of  common 
pleas. 

George  W.  Moore,  a prominent  farmer  and  stockraiser  of  Marion 
township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  was  born  at  Allen,  this  state,  August  17, 
1858,  a son  of  Samuel  and  Margaret  E.  (Mans)  Moore.  Samuel  Moore 
was  a native  of  Ohio  and  reared  his  family  here.  One  of  his  sons,  Peter 
M.,  is  a resident  of  Milwaukee,  and  another  son,  Alpheus,  lives  in 
Pennsylvania.  His  only  daughter,  Mary,  is  the  wife  of  Nelson  Carry. 

George  W.  Moore  spent  his  early  boyhood  at  Westminster  and  later 
attended  school  in  Lima.  He  remained  a member  of  the  home  circle 
until  he  was  twenty-one  when,  without  means,  he  started  out  to  make 
his  own  way  in  the  world.  Going  to  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana,  he  went  to 
work  as  a carpenter  in  the  car  shops  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Com- 
pany, where  he  remained  a year.  After  this  he  was  for  a time  with  the 
Milwaukee  and  St.  Paul  Railroad  Company.  Then  he  came  to  Hardin 
county,  Ohio,  and  settled  down  to  farm  work,  and  has  been  a farmer  ever 
since.  In  1882  he  bought  thirty-five  acres  of  his  present  farm,  to  which 
he  has  added  by  subsequent  purchase,  and  is  now  the  owner  of  three 
hundred  and  sixteen  and  a half  acres,  well  improved  with  good  buildings, 
etc.  In  1892  he  erected  his  house,  and  in  1899  his  barn,  the  latter  being 
thirty-six  by  sixty-two  feet  in  dimensions,  and  while  he  carries  on  general 
farming  he  makes  a specialty  of  raising  and  buying  and  selling  hogs, 
cattle  and  horses.  He  buys  cattle  in  Chicago,  ships  to  his  farm  and 
fattens  for  market,  annually  selling  about  two  car  loads  of  cattle  and 
from  fourteen  to  sixteen  hundred  dollars  worth  of  hogs.  Also  he  has 
some  fine  Percheron  horses  which  have  attracted  no  little  attention  in 
this  locality. 

In  1883  Mr.  Moore  married  Miss  Maggie  Goslee,  a native  of  Hardin 
county,  born  June  15,  1865.  She  was  a woman  of  refinement  and  pos- 
sessed many  excellent  qualities  of  heart  and  mind.  After  fifteen  years 
of  happy  married  life  she  died  on  June  16,  1898,  leaving  two  sons  and 
five  daughters,  namely : Florence ; Addie,  wife  of  Merlin  Ewing ; Rettie, 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


577 


wife  of  John  Fred  Underwood;  Harry,  George  Lester,  Maggie  Fay  and 
Ruth. 

Mr.  Moore  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Pleasant  Hill 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  of  which  he  is  a trustee.  He  has  member- 
ship in  the  Maccabee  Lodge  at  Alger,  Ohio,  and  politically  is  a 
Republican. 

Solomon  II.  Cook. — One  of  the  most  highly  esteemed  and  influen- 
tial citizens  of  Kenton,  Ohio,  is  Solomon  H.  Cook,  a native  of  Wyandot 
county,  born  August  8,  1845.  Mr.  Cook  is  a son  of  James  B.  and 
Hannah  (Corwin)  Cook,  both  natives  of  Washington  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, the  latter  a niece  of  Governor  Corwin.  James  B.  Cook  was  born 
February  8,  1818,  and  his  wife  October  1,  1819,  and  they  were  married 
in  Mansfield,  Richland  county,  Ohio,  December  18,  1839.  They  located 
in  Wyandot  county  in  1844,  and  for  several  years  carried  on  a farm. 
Although  he  purchased  a farm  he  was  a carpenter  by  trade  and  followed 
the  same  all  his  life,  erecting  many  residences  in  his  neighborhood.  Mr. 
Cook  died  July  19,  1861,  having  been  bitten  by  a mad  dog  seven  years 
prior  to  his  demise,  which  was  the  cause  of  his  death.  His  widow  died 
in  March,  1902.  They  were  the  parents  of  four  sons  and  five  daughters 
of  whom  three  sons  and  two  daughters  survive. 

Solomon  II.  Cook  spent  his  early  days  on  his  father’s  farm  and  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  country  schools.  In  1861,  at  the  age  of 
sixteen  years,  he  enlisted  in  Company  D,  Seventy-second  Regiment,  Ohio 
Volunteer  Infantry,  being  mustered  out  December  20,  1863.  He  reen- 
listecl  on  December  20,  1863,  in  the  same  company  and  regiment,  in  what 
was  known  as  the  Ohio  Veteran  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  was  captured 
and  sent  to  Andersonville  prison  June  11,  1864,  and  on  September  22d 
of  the  same  year,  with  other  prisoners,  he  was  taken  to  Florence,  South 
Carolina,  where  they  remained  until  February  1,  1865.  They  were  then 
taken  to  Wilmington,  North  Carolina,  thence  to  Goldsboro,  where  they 
were  paroled,  put  aboard  a steamer  on  March  3d  and  arrived  at  Annapo- 
lis on  March  8th.  They  were  sent  to  Camp  Chase,  Ohio,  and  then  re- 
turned to  their  homes,  Mr.  Cook  arriving  home  July  2,  1865,  in  a very 
weak  condition.  After  recovering  his  health  he  took  up  farming, 
remaining  on  his  father’s  estate  two  years. 

On  October  24,  1867,  Mr.  Cook  married  Mary  N.  Kneisley,  daughter 
of  John  and  Susan  A.  (McLain)  Kneisley,  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  the 
former  born  in  1825,  and  the  latter,  a native  of  Ohio,  born  in  1831 ; they 
were  married  in  1848.  Mr.  Kneisley  came  to  Hardin  county  about  1846 
and  purchased  a farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  cleared  off  the 
timber  and  improved  his  land.  Later  he  added  two  hundred  and  eighty 
acres  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  had  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  Hardin 
county.  He  died  July  1,  1884,  and  his  widow  passed  away  October  3, 
1897.  They  were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  seven  sons  and  three 
daughters,  of  whom  seven  children  still  survive. 

Mr.  Cook  rented  land  two  years  after  his  marriage  and  in  the  spring 
of  1870  built  a house  on  forty  acres  of  land  in  Dudley  township,  Hardin 
county.  He  cleared  and  improved  this  farm,  getting  it  into  a fine  state 


578 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


of  cultivation  and  living  there  until  April  1,  1907,  when  he  sold  his  farm 
and  bought  a small  place  north  of  Kenton.  About  a year  later  Mr. 
Cook  and  his  family  moved  to  the  town  of  Kenton,  where  he  purchased  a 
residence  on  Leighton  street  and  retired  from  active  life. 

For  the  past  fifty  years  Mr.  Cook  has  been  a member  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church,  and  he  also  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias  at 
Hepburn  and  to  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  being  chaplain  of 
Cantwell  Post.  lie  has  always  voted  the  Republican  ticket  and  is 
prominent  in  public  affairs.  Mr.  Cook  served  as  trustee  and  township 
clerk  when  living  in  Dudley  township,  also  as  road  supervisor.  For 
six  years  he  served  as  one  of  the  directors  of  the  county  infirmary,  being 
appointed  one  of  a committee  of  seven  to  meet  in  Columbus  to  revise  the 
poor  laws,  these  being  now  in  force.  He  is  interested  in  every  good 
cause  and  has  always  been  very  active  in  church  work,  serving  as  lay 
delegate  to  the  state  conference  several  times,  and  for  forty  years  he 
led  in  the  church  choir  of  Pisgah  and  Hepburn  Methodist  Episcopal 
churches.  At  present  Mr.  Cook  is  census  enumerator  of  the  second  ward 
of  Kenton. 

Mr.  Cook  and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  of  whom 
seven  survive.  They  are:  William  G.,  born  April  3,  1869;  Jessie  K., 
born  February  12,  1871,  died  April  24,  1871  ; John  J.,  born  March  3, 
1872;  Lizzie  D.,  born  July  22,  1875;  Cora  E.,  born  May  18,  1877,  died 
August  31,  1878;  Harvey  McLain,  born  January  31,  1879;  Mary  M., 
born  July  17,  1881  ; Felicia,  born  January  3,  1884,  died  January  7,  1885; 
Roy  B.,  born  September  30,  1885 ; and  Solomon  C.,  born  December  27, 
1889.  Mr.  Cook  is  well  known  in  Kenton,  and  is  held  in  the  highest 
esteem  by  all  who  know  him. 

John  Laughlin  Clark. — During  the  greater  part  of  his  life  John 
L.  Clark  has  been  identified  with  Hardin  county  and  its  interests,  for 
many  years  one  of  its  well  known  agriculturists,  but  he  is  now  living 
retired  in  Kenton.  He  was  born  in  Logan  county  of  this  state,  near  the 
town  of  Belle  Center,  on  the  16th  of  October,  1835,  a member  of  a family 
which  was  established  in  this  country  by  Thomas  B.  Clark,  a Scotchman. 
On  coming  from  his  native  Scotland  to  the  United  States  this  Thomas  B. 
Clark  settled  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  Fie  was  a Presbyterian 
minister,  and  he  organized  churches  and  Sunday  schools  throughout 
northwestern  Ohio,  and  he  located  in  Guernsey  county  of  this  state  in 
1811.  His  wife,  Nancy,  was  also  from  Scotland,  and  her  first  home 
in  this  country  was  in  Erie  county,  Pennsylvania. 

Alvin  Clark,  a son  of  Thomas  B.  and  Nancy  Clark,  was  born  in 
Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  March  5,  1809.  He  received  a college 
education,  and  chose  farming  for  his  life’s  work.  During  the  war  be- 
tween the  north  and  the  south  he  served  in  Company  D,  Sixty-sixth  Ohio 
Volunteer  Infantry,  but  he  was  discharged  in  October  of  1862  on  account 
of  disability,  and  from  troubles  contracted  in  his  war  service  he  died  on 
the  10th  of  August,  1878.  He  was  a stanch  supporter  of  Republican 
principles,  and  a true  and  earnest  Presbyterian  he  served  for  several 
years  before  his  death  as  an  elder  in  the  First  Presbyterian  church  at 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


579 


Belle  Center  and  as  a teacher  in  its  Sunday  school.  In  1834  Mr.  Clark 
married  Mary  Laughlin,  who  was  born  in  Erie  county,  Pennsylvania, 
March  3,  1809.  In  1811  she  moved  with  her  parents  from  her  native 
county  of  Erie  to  Guernsey  county,  Ohio,  and  with  her  husband  in  the 
fall  of  1834  she  moved  to  Logan  county.  She  died  on  the  18th  of 
September,  1881. 

John  L.  Clark  attended  the  academy  at  Washington,  Guernsey 
county,  and  during  the  ten  years  after  leaving  school  he  was  engaged  in 
buying  and  shipping  stock.  In  October  of  1861  he  enlisted  in  Company 
D,  Sixty-sixth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  for  service  in  the  Civil  war, 
and  being  assigned  to  the  Eastern  Division  he  fought  in  the  battle  of 
Port  Republic.  He  was  discharged  by  order  of  the  secretary  of  war 
on  the  4th  of  August,  1862,  being  at  that  time  a member  of  the  board  of 
engineers,  and  on  the  10th  of  May,  1864,  he  was  enrolled  as  first  lieu- 
tenant of  Company  C,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-second  Ohio  Volunteer 
Infantry,  and  was  engaged  in  garrison  duty  in  Virginia.  Following 
his  return  from  the  war  Mr.  Clark  lived  in  Logan  county  until  moving 
to  a farm  in  Hardin  county  in  1876,  and  in  1896  he  established  his  home 
in  the  county  seat  of  Kenton.  He  too  is  a stanch  supporter  of  Republi- 
can principles,  and  for  one  term  he  served  his  county  as  a member  of 
its  board  of  commissioners,  was  two  terms  trustee  of  Rock  township, 
and  for  eight  years  was  the  postmaster  of  Kenton. 

On  the  15tli  of  January,  1867,  at  Belle  Center,  Ohio,  Mr.  Clark  was 
married  to  Elsie  J.  Ritchey,  who  was  born  in  Logan  county,  February 
11,  1844,  a daughter  of  William  and  Martha  Ritchey.  She  attended 
Geneva  College  at  Northwood  in  Logan  county.  Her  parents  were 
among  the  early  pioneers  of  that  county,  coming  from  Washington 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  settling  in  the  town  of  Belle  Center,  where 
William  Ritchey  followed  his  trade  of  a carpenter.  The  following  child- 
ren blessed  the  marriage  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark : William  B. 
Clark,  born  April  18,  1869,  at  Belle  Center,  was  educated  at  the  Zaner- 
ian  Business  College  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  is  now  a merchant  at 
Huntingburg,  Indiana.  Alvin  L.  Clark,  born  September  7,  1870,  at 
Belle  Center,  attended  the  Kenton  schools  and  the  Ohio  Normal  Univers- 
ity at  Ada,  Ohio,  and  is  now  assistant  postmaster  at  Kenton.  Walter 
H.  Clark  was  born  at  Belle  Center  November  21,  1874.  He  attended 
the  schools  of  Kenton,  and  is  now  a merchant  at  Marion,  Ohio.  James 
P.  Clark,  born  May  5,  1876,  at  Belle  Center,  is  engaged  in  fruit  raising 
on  McKinley,  Isle  of  Pines,  Cuba.  Mary  J.  Clark,  born  September  12, 
1880,  died  on  the  24th  of  August,  1898.  Mr.  Clark  is  one  of  the  elders 
of  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Kenton,  and  he  is  also  a member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity  and  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

W.  0.  Weir,  superintendent  of  the  school  at  Dunkirk,  Hardin 
county,  Ohio,  was  born  in  1868,  at  Forest  in  the  county  in  which  he 
now  lives.  His  parents,  John  and  Miriam  (Case)  Weir,  were  both  born 
in  Ohio,  the  former  in  the  county  of  Coschoeton  and  the  latter  in  Wyan- 
dot county.  About  a year  previous  to  the  birth  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  they  moved  to  Hardin  county  and  settled  at  Forest,  where  the 
mother  died  some  years  ago  and  where  the  father  still  lives.  In  their 


580 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


family  were  four  children : Arthur  J.,  Edgar  C.,  C.  0.  and  W.  0. — all 
of  Hardin  county  except  Arthur  J.  who  is  a resident  of  Toledo,  Ohio. 

W.  0.  Weir  received  his  preparatory  education  in  the  Forest  high 
school.  Then  he  entered  Ada  University,  where  he  graduated  in  1893, 
and  subsequently  he  took  a course  at  Lima  College.  He  is  a graduate 
of  the  last  named  institution  with  the  class  of  1908.  In  the  meantime 
he  was  engaged  in  teaching.  When  a boy  in  high  school  it  was  his 
intention  to  become  a teacher,  and  his  subsequent  studies  were  pursued 
with  this  end  in  view — to  fit  himself  for  the  responsible  position  not 
only  a teacher  but  of  a first-class  teacher.  He  received  a common 
school  life  certificate  in  1899,  and  a high  school  life  certificate  in  1906. 
He  taught  successfully  in  the  rural  schools  for  eleven  years  and  for 
twelve  years  has  been  connected  with  high  school  work,  the  past  eight 
years  as  superintendent  of  the  Dunkirk  High  School.  This  school 
had  its  origin  in  1866,  when  the  union  school  system  was  organized, 
and  in  1867  a four  room  brick  building  was  erected,  which  was  re- 
placed in  1883  by  the  present  school  building,  erected  at  a cost  of 
forty-eight  thousand  five  hundred  dollars.  In  1902  the  school  was 
reorganized  as  a second  grade  high  school,  and  in  1904  it  was  raised  to 
a first  grade.  At  this  writing  (1909),  the  high  school,  which  comprises 
four  grades,  has  an  enrollment  of  eighty-four,  and  the  elementary  school 
with  its  eight  grades,  has  an  enrollment  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-one. 
At  present  nine  teachers  are  employed  in  the  schools  numbering  W.  H. 
Mustard,  IT.  B.  Williams,  J.  W.  Millette,  S.  D.  Rank,  J.  R.  Bowland,  F. 
J.  Stincheomb,  E.  W.  Green,  and  W.  0.  Weir.  The  first  man  to  preside 
here  as  superintendent  was  W.  IT.  Mustard.  He  was  followed  by  H. 
B.  Williams,  the  present  superintendent  of  the  Sandusky  City  schools, 
and  next  came  W.  0.  Weir,  who  as  above  stated,  has  been  superintendent 
eight  years.  Professor  Weir’s  principal  and  assistant  in  the  high  school 
are  C.  C.  Barnes  and  John  R.  Bowland,  respectively,  both  of  whom  are 
graduates  of  the  Ada  University. 

Professor  Weir  married,  1894,  Miss  Anna  O’Brien,  a native  of 
Forest,  Ohio,  born  in  1869,  and  they  have  one  son,  Paul  V.,  born  in 
1899,  and  who  is  now  in  the  fifth  grade  of  the  public  schools.  In  both 
fraternal  and  church  circles  the  Professor  is  prominent  and  active.  He 
is  treasurer  of  Lodge  No.  549,  F.  & A.  M.  and  of  R.  A.  M.  No.  138,  and 
has  membership  in  the  I.  0.  0.  F.  and  the  K.  of  P.  He  worships  with 
the  Church  of  Christ.  He  has  held  the  position  of  county  teachers 
examiner  for  two  terms,  and  has  always  stood  for  the  advancement  of 
the  county’s  teachers.  He  has  membership  in  all  teachers’  societies 
for  advancement,  is  an  ardent  supporter  of  this  town’s  welfare,  eager 
for  its  advancement,  and  is  a close  student  and  an  orator  of  ability, 
being  in  demand  for  teachers  institutes  and  class  addresses.  His  ad- 
dresses are  classic  and  he  never  fails  to  prove  he  has  a mission  for  the 
young  student  and  teacher.  Professor  Weir  is  also  at  present  president 
of  the  Perfect  Gate  Company,  capitalized  at  ten  thousand  dollars  and 
located  at  Forest,  Ohio. 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


581 


William  D.  Smith. — The  city  of  Kenton,  Ohio,  is  the  scene  of 
operation  of  many  thriving  manufacturing  enterprises,  whose  success 
has  contributed  not  a little  to  the  welfare  and  growth  of  the  city.  A- 
mong  the  efficient  and  enterprising  men  at  the  head  of  these  institutions 
is  William  D.  Smith,  who  is  president  and  superintendent  of  the  Ohio 
Machine  Tool  Company.  Mr.  Smith  is  a native  of  Kentucky,  born  at 
Newport,  April  17,  1859,  a son  of  Daniel  and  Caroline  Wagner  Smith. 
His  father  was  born  near  Frankfort  and  his  mother  in  Berlin,  Germany, 
and  they  had  six  children,  three  sons  and  three  daughters. 

William  D.  Smith  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Kentucky,  but  only  got  as  far  as  the  fourth  reader.  At  the  age  of  four- 
teen years  he  became  an  apprentice  to  the  trade  of  machinist  in  Cincin- 
nati, where  he  served  four  years,  a year  and  a half  under  special  instruc- 
tion. He  then  took  charge  of  a department  for  the  McFarland  & Navgin- 
tonliam  Company,  Cincinnati,  manufacturers  of  machinery.  Mr.  Smith 
remained  in  their  employ  ten  years,  and  then  took  charge  of  the  Lodge- 
Davis  Machine  Tool  Company,  also  of  Cincinnati,  with  whom  he 
remained  eight  years. 

In  1867  Mr.  Smith  started  in  the  machinist  tool  business  on  his 
own  account  in  Cincinnati,  and  in  1891  moved  this  enterprise  to  Kenton, 
Ohio,  where  the  business  has  since  been  carried  on  under  the  name  of 
the  Ohio  Machine  Tool  Company.  The  concern  has  a capital  stock  of 
fifty  thousand  dollars,  with  a paid  up  capital  of  thirty-five  thousand 
dollars.  Mr.  Smith  is  president  and  superintendent,  II.  A.  Wise,  sec- 
retary and  treasurer,  and  Henry  Gramlich,  vice  president.  In  times  of 
great  business  activity  the  firm  employs  about  seventy-five  men,  and 
they  do  a general  line  of  machine  tool  manufacturing. 

In  1881,  Mr.  Smith  married  Bessie  Williamson,  daughter  of  Robert 
Williamson,  and  to  this  union  two  children  have  been  born,  Harry  and 
Flora.  Mr.  Smith  is  a member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum.  Politically 
he  is. a Republican  and  takes  a commendable  interest  in  public  affairs. 
He  is  a self  made  man,  and  has  reached  his  present  position  through  his 
own  energy  and  ambition.  He  has  been  engaged  in  his  present  occupa- 
tion since  boyhood,  and  thoroughly  understands  every  detail  of  the 
business  under  his  charge.  He  is  a man  of  high  character  and  business 
probity,  and  is  popular  in  business  and  social  circles. 

Robert  L.  Souder,  M.  D. — Prominent  among  those  physicians  of 
reputed  experience,  skill  and  ability  who  are  enjoying  a lucrative  general 
practice  in  Ada,  Hardin  county,  is  Robert  L.  Souder,  M.  D.,  a man  of 
much  professional  knowledge  and  wisdom.  A son  of  William  Souder, 
he  was  born,  February  13,  1851,  in  Crawford  county,  Ohio,  near  Sulphur 
Springs. 

A native  of  Loudoun  county,  Virginia,  William  Souder,  when  a boy, 
migrated  with  his  parents  to  Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  where  he  grew 
to  manhood,  and  began  his  career  as  an  independent  farmer.  He  subse- 
quently moved  to  Crawford  county,  and  for  awhile  continued  his 
agricultural  labors,  owning  a farm  near  Sulphur  Springs.  Giving  up 
farming,  he  resided  awhile  at,  New  Washington,  from  there  coming,  in 
1861,  to  Ada,  where  he  built  a tannery,  which  he  operated  until  his 


I 


582  HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 

retirement  from  active  pursuits.  Here  he  resided  until  his  death,  at 
the  age  of  seventy-seven  years.  He  was  a man  of  sterling  integrity,  and 
a worthy  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  He  married  first,  in 
Columbiana  county,  Nancy  Stephens,  who  bore  him  eleven  children. 
He  married  second,  in  1840,  in  Crawford  county,  Margaret  Latimer,  who 
was  born  in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  a daughter  of  George 
Latimer,  who  was  of  Irish  descent,  and  to  them  four  children  were  born. 

The  youngest  of  his  father’s  family  of  fifteen  children,  Robert  L. 
Souder  was  ten  years  old  when  the  family  settled  in  Ada,  where  he 
acquired  his  preliminary  education.  After  leaving  the  public  schools, 
he  studied  under  Dr.  Lehr,  before  the  organization  of  the  college,  and 
assisted  his  instructor  as  a pupil  teacher.  He  afterwards  taught  in  the 
public  schools  of  Ada,  serving  one  year  as  superintendent,  in  the  mean- 
time spending  all  of  his  leisure  time  in  reading  medicine  with  Dr. 
Ralph  Davenport,  of  Ada.  During  the  winter  of  1873  and  1874  he 
attended  lectures  at  the  Ohio  Medical  College  in  Cincinnati,  and  the 
following  winter  attended  lectures  at  the  Detroit  Medical  College,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  with  the  degree  of  M.  D.  in  the  spring  of  1875. 
Beginning  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  North  Baltimore,  Wood 
county,  Dr.  Souder  remained  there  three  years,  afterwards  spending 
five  years  at  Metamora,  Fulton  county.  Going  from  there  to  Nevada, 
Wyandot  county,  he  built  up  a large  and  remunerative  patronage,  re- 
maining there  eighteen  years.  In  1902  the  doctor  came  to  Ada,  and 
has  since  become  one  of  the  leading  physicians  of  this  part  of  Hardin 
county. 

On  February  17,  1876,  Dr.  Souder  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Jennie  Melhorn,  who  was  born  in  Richland  county,  Ohio,  a daughter  of 
Captain  Michael  and  Martha  (Ahlefeld)  Melhorn,  of  Ada.  Mrs. 
Souder  is  a woman  of  culture  and  refinement,  and  prior  to  her  marriage 
taught  several  terms  in  the  public  schools  of  Ada.  The  Doctor  and  Mrs. 
Souder  have  two  children,  namely : Donna,  wife  of  LI.  L.  Goodbrend, 

of  Nevada,  Ohio;  and  Ruth.  The  Doctor  has  accumulated  a good 
property,  and  is  the  owner  of  the  old  Melhorn  farming  estate,  which 
adjoins  the  village  of  Ada.  He  belongs  to  various  medical  organizations 
including  the  Hardin  County  Medical  Society,  the  Northwestern  Ohio 
Medical  Association,  the  Ohio  State  Medical  Society,  and  the  American 
Medical  Association.  Fraternally  he  is  a member  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  and  religiously  he  belongs  to  the  Presbyterian  church.  He  has 
always  been  identified  with  the  Republican  party,  and  while  in  Wyandot 
county  served  from  1897  until  coming  to  Ada  as  a member  of  the  Board 
of  Pension  Examiners. 

Demoin  Ewing. — One  of  the  most  enterprising  young  farmers  of 
Taylor  Creek  township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  Demoin  Ewing,  was  born 
in  Silver  Creek,  Ohio,  June  19,  1876,  a son  of  Robert  I.  and  Orilla  J. 
(Harris)  Ewing,  the  former  of  whom  died  in  1898.  Mrs.  Ewing  is  a 
daughter  of  Isaac  and  Elizabeth  (Jewell)  Harris,  of  Lincoln  county, 
Ohio.  The  children  born  to  Robert  Ewing  and  his  wife  were:  Demoin; 
Roy,  a farmer  living  near  Kenton ; Alfaretta,  wife  of  Thad  W.  Carr, 


HISTORY  OF  IIARDIN  COUNTY 


583 


mentioned  elsewhere  in  this  work;  and  Glen,  living  in  the  state  of 
Washington. 

Demoin  Ewing  attended  the  public  schools  and  received  a liberal 
education.  When  about  seventeen  years  of  age  he  began  working  on  a 
farm  and  he  worked  until  about  1901  for  Thad  W.  Carr.  In  1901  he 
married  Mary  Carr  Roberts,  who  was  born  January  29,  1879,  daughter 
of  Judson  and  Mary  F.  Roberts.  Her  mother  died  when  she  was  an 
infant  and  she  lived  with  her  grandmother,  Mrs.  Lydia  (Howell)  Carr, 
until  her  marriage.  Her  grandfather  was  Washington  Carr,  father 
of  Thad  W.  Carr  mentioned  above.  Mrs.  Lydia  Carr  was  a daughter 
of  Halsey  Howell.  Judson  Roberts  still  lives  on  a farm  in  this  county. 

Mr.  Ewing  and  his  wife  have  two  children,  Edna,  born  May  29, 
1902,  and  Fred  Judd,  born  June  25,  1907.  Mr.  Ewing  is  a member  of 
the  local  Grange.  He  is  a Republican  in  politics  and  though  actively 
interested  in  public  affairs,  has  never  eared  for  office. 

Nathan  Ahlefeld. — The  honored  subject  of  this  memoir  was  a 
scion  of  one  of  the  sterling  families  of  the  old  Buckeye  state,  was  himself 
for  many  years  prominently  identified  with  business  and  civic  interests 
in  Hardin  county  and  was  called  upon  to  serve  in  various  posts  of  dis- 
tinctive public  trust  and  responsibility  and  was  a citizen  who  ever  com- 
manded unequivocal  confidence  and  respect  in  this  section  of  the  state. 
He  passed  the  closing  years  of  his  life  at  his  home  in  Kenton,  this 
county,  on  the  9th  of  July,  1902,  at  which  time  he  was  sixty-eight  years 
of  age. 

Nathan  Ahlefeld  was  born  in  Richland  county,  Ohio,  in  the  year 
1833,  and  was  a son  of  Rhinehard  Ahlefeld,  who  was  the  founder  of  the 
family  in  America  and  who  was  a representative  of  a stanch  old  family 
of  Germany  where  he  was  born  and  reared.  About  the  year  1818  he 
immigrated  to  America  and  soon  after  his  arrival  came  to  Ohio  and 
numbered  himself  among  the  pioneers  of  Richland  county.  In  a remote 
way  the  ancestry  is  traced  back  to  Danish  origin,  representatives  of  the 
name  having  moved  from  Denmark  to  Germany  in  the  sixteenth  century. 
In  his  native  land  Rhinehard  Ahlefeld  gained  a good  common  school 
education  and  there  he  learned  the  miller’s  trade.  After  locating  in 
Richland  county,  Ohio,  he  erected  and  operated  a mill  and  there  he  also 
reclaimed  from  the  forest  a productive  farm.  In  that  county  was 
solemnized  his  marriage  to  Phoebe  Young,  who  was  of  German  lineage 
and  there  all  of  their  children  were  born.  About  1849  the  family 
removed  to  Allen  county,  Ohio,  and  later  they  removed  thence  to  Hardin 
county  and  settled  on  a farm  near  Ada  where  the  father  died  at  the 
venerable  age  of  seventy-six  years. 

Concerning  the  children  of  Rhinehard  and  Phoebe  (Young)  Ahlefeld 
the  following  brief  data  are  entered:  Airs.  Christina  Moore  resided  in 

Allen  county  after  marriage  and  there  her  death  occurred  when  she  was 
seventy-six  years  of  age ; Mrs.  Martha  Melhorn,  a second  daughter,  was 
a resident  of  Hardin  county  after  her  marriage  and  she  died  at  Ada, 
this  county,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years ; Mrs.  Nancy  Gilbert  is  now  a 
resident  of  Burlington,  Kansas;  Mrs.  Sarah  Rockhill  is  a resident  of 


584 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


LeRoy,  that  state ; Nathan  is  the  immediate  subject  of  this  memoir ; 
Peter  is  a resident  of  the  city  of  Cleveland,  Ohio;  and  Jacob  resides  in 
LeRoy,  Kansas.  Nathan  Ahlefeld  gained  his  early  education  in  the 
primitive  pioneer  schools  of  his  native  county  and  was  about  sixteen 
years  of  age  at  the  time  of  the  family’s  removal  to  Allen  county.  They 
settled  near  Rockport  where  they  remained  a few  years,  after  which 
they  came  to  Hardin  county  and  established  a home  about  one-half  mile 
north  of  the  village  of  Ada,  a place  now  known  as  the  Lowry  farm. 
Nathan  Ahlefeld  early  became  dependent  upon  his  own  resources.  At 
the  age  of  seventeen  years  he  went  to  live  in  the  home  of  Dr.  Sager  at 
Lafayette,  Allen  county,  and  he  remained  with  this  pioneer  physician 
until  he  was  about  twenty-one  years  of  age,  having  been  employed  in  a 
store  conducted  by  Dr.  Sager  and  at  other  incidental  occupations.  Short- 
ly before  attaining  his  legal  majority,  in  company  with  Calvin  Gilbert, 
he  set  forth  with  an  ox  team  and  wagon  for  Minnesota  where  he  secured 
from  the  government  a homestead  claim  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
upon  which  a portion  of  the  city  of  Minneapolis  now  stands.  He  there 
remained  about  two  years  and  in  the  meanwhile  perfected  his  title  to  the 
land.  At  the  expiration  of  the  period  noted  he  returned  to  Ohio,  making 
a short  stay  in  the  city  of  Chicago,  which  was  then  a place  of  compara- 
tive obscurity,  and  upon  reaching  Allen  county  he  rejoined  Dr.  Sager 
who  soon  afterward  entrusted  him  with  a small  stock  of  goods  which  he 
installed  in  a modest  building  in  the  village  of  Ada  where  he  built  up  a 
successful  enterprise.  He  was  appointed  the  first  postmaster  of  the 
town  and  also  served  as  local  railroad  agent  at  that  point.  He  eventu- 
ally bought  a stock  of  goods  from  Mr.  Sager,  removed  the  same  to  another 
location  in  the  village  and  succeeded  in  making  the  enterprise  one  of  no 
inconsiderable  scope  and  importance  in  the  handling  of  general  merchan- 
dise. He  also  became  a successful  dealer  in  real  estate  and  his  enterprise 
and  initiative  led  him  to  identify  himself  with  other  lines  of  business 
through  which  he  gained  success,  as  he  was  recognized  as  a man  of  sterl- 
ing integrity  and  as  one  possessed  of  marked  business  acumen.  He 
served  a second  term  as  postmaster  of  Ada  and  shortly  after  the  close  of 
the  war  he  erected  the  building  in  which  was  the  first  public  hall  of  the 
town.  This  building,  which  is  still  standing,  was  also  used  by  him  for 
his  mercantile  establishment.  Mr.  Ahlefeld  also  became  associated  with 
his  brother  in  the  establishing  of  a bank  at  Ada  and  they  conducted  the 
same  for  a number  of  years.  Still  later,  he  served  one  term  as  county 
auditor,  giving  a most  effective  and  acceptable  administration. 

In  1881  Mr.  Ahlefeld  disposed  of  his  various  interests  in  Ada  and 
removed  to  Kenton  where  he  entered  into  partnership  with  Curtis 
Wilkin,  under  the  firm  name  of  Ahlefeld  & Wilkin,  and  they  thereafter 
conducted  a prosperous  real  estate  and  loan  business  until  about  1893, 
when  Mr.  Wilkin  retired  from  the  firm,  after  which  Mr.  Ahlefeld  con- 
tinued the  enterprise  until  about  seven  years  prior  to  his  demise.  During 
these  years  he  lived  virtually  retired  and  when  he  was  called  to  the  life 
eternal,  the  community  lost  one  of  its  honored  pioneer  citizens  and  able 
business  men.  While  a resident  of  Ada,  Mr.  Ahlefeld  was  agent  for 
the  famous  Hog  Creek  Marsh  Lands  and  the  sale  of  the  same  was  effected 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


585 


through  him.  Through  his  own  efforts  Mr.  Ahlefeld  accumulated  a 
competency  but  he  did  not  hedge  himself  in  with  selfish  interests  but  was 
ever  ready  to  give  his  support  and  influence  in  connection  with  all 
enterprises  and  measures  attending  to  advance  the  general  welfare  of  the 
community.  In  addition  to  serving  as  county  auditor,  in  1871,  he  was 
appointed  by  Governor  James  E.  Campbell  a member  of  the  board  of 
managers  of  the  Ohio  State  penetentiary  at  Columbus,  and  he  continued 
in  this  position  during  the  administration  of  Governor  Campbell.  In 
politics  he  was  a stanch  supporter  of  the  cause  of  the  Democratic  party. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  were  identified  with  the  Presbyterian  church. 

On  the  22d  of  May,  1856,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Ahlefeld  to  Miss  Celia  E.  Wiley,  who  was  born  in  Worthington,  Ohio, 
and  who  is  a daughter  of  Dr.  Isaac  and  Eliza  (Lewis)  Wiley,  both  of 
whom  were  born  and  reared  in  Ohio.  Dr.  Wiley  traced  his  lineage  back 
to  Welsh  origin  and  the  founder  of  the  family  in  America  was  Samuel 
Wiley,  who  came  from  Wales  in  1765  and  established  his  home  at 
Snowhill,  Maryland.  He  served  as  a patriot  soldier  in  the  war  of  the 
Revolution.  His  wife  was  of  Spanish  descent  and  they  reared  a family 
of  several  children.  Dr.  Isaac  Wiley  was  one  of  the  honored  pioneer 
physicians  of  Ohio  and  for  many  years  was  engaged  in  the  active  prac- 
tice of  his  profession  at  Worthington,  this  state,  where  his  marriage 
was  solemnized.  He  passed  the  closing  years  of  his  life  in  the  home 
of  his  son-in-law,  Nathan  Ahlefeld.  of  this  memoir,  in  the  village  of 
Ada,  where  he  died  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-two  years.  The 
mother  of  Mrs.  Ahlefeld  was  a relative  of  the  historic  Lee  and  Hull  fam- 
ilies of  Virginia  and  her  paternal  grandfather  was  a soldier  in  the 
Continental  line  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  Mrs.  Ahlefeld  still 
resides  in  the  attractive  and  commodious  residence,  on  north  Detroit 
street,  which  was  erected  by  her  husband  upon  his  removal  to  Kenton. 

In  conclusion  of  this  sketch  is  entered  a brief  record  concerning 
the  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ahlefeld.  Ida  is  the  wife  of  J.  F.  Andrews 
of  Kenton ; Albert  G.  is  individually  mentioned  on  other  pages  of  this 
work ; Effie  L.  is  the  wife  of  J.  B.  Andrews  of  Goshen,  Indiana ; Anna 
died  at  Ada,  this  county,  at  the  age  of  two  years,  and  Corinne  is  the  wife 
of  Curran  Flanagan,  editor  and  publisher  of  the  Kenton  Democrat. 

Hon.  Moses  B.  Walker,  LL.  D. — The  late  General  Moses  B.  Walker 
was  one  of  the  strong  men  produced  by  the  state  of  Ohio,  the  proud 
mother  of  stalwart  sons  who  have  given  such  a splendid  account  of  them- 
selves in  the  councils  of  commonwealth  and  nation,  in  the  activities  of 
the  field,  as  well  as  of  statesmanship.  General  Walker  was  a typical 
representative  of  the  highest  citizenship  and  patriotism  of  the  Buckeye 
state.  He  was  eminent  as  a brave  soldier  and  a military  leader ; 
honored  for  his  ability  as  a lawyer  and  a .judge  and  widely  recognized  by 
the  Republican  party  as  a man  to  be  implicitly  trusted — one  of  their 
most  gifted  and  moral  representatives.  Wherever  there  was  work 
to  be  done,  either  on  the  battlefields  of  the  militia  or  of  politics — work 
which  required  manly  stamina  and  a high  grade  of  courage — there  coidcl 
always  be  found  General  Walker  in  the  thick  of  the  fray. 


586 


HISTORY  OP  TIARDIN  COUNTY 


Moses  B.  Walker  was  a native  of  Fairfield  county,  Ohio,  horn  on 
the  16th  of  July,  1819,  and  was  a son  of  John  and  Mary  (Davis)  Walker. 
His  mother  was  a native  of  Frederick  county,  Maryland,  daughter  of 
Ignatius  and  Mary  (DeLamar)  Davis,  and  was  of  French  ancestry. 
John  Walker,  the  father,  was  also  a native  of  Maryland  (St.  Mary’s 
county) . He  was  a planter  in  that  section  of  the  state — a Catholic  and 
a Whig ; and  his  politics  may  have  had  something  to  do  with  his  coming 
to  Ohio  in  1798.  In  that  year  he  settled  in  the  Scioto  valley  near 
Chillicothe,  where  he  prospered  as  a farmer  and  a good  citizen.  With 
true  southern  spirit,  he  joined  the  other  settlers  in  that  part  of  the 
territory  in  their  determined  efforts  to  repel  Indian  attacks  and  in- 
vasion, and  was  one  of  the  pioneers  who  erected  the  famous  Martin 
blockhouse  in  the  Scioto  valley.  Likewise,  he  gladly  left  his  plow  to 
participate  in  the  war  of  1812  and  the  final  settlement  of  the  score 
against  Great  Britain,  serving  during  several  campaigns  as  lieutenant 
of  the  home  militia.  In  his  earlier  years  Mr.  Walker  was  a Catholic, 
thereby  adhering  to  the  faith  of  his  forefathers  in  Maryland;  but  later 
he  became  a member  and  a leading  worker  in  the  Methodist  church.  In 
1842  Mr.  Walker  moved  with  his  wife  to  Yan  Buren  county,  Iowa„  locat- 
ing large  tracts  of  land  along  the  Des  Moines  river,  some  of  which  he 
improved  and  handled  others  as  investments.  He  died  in  this  locality 
about  1850.  His  wife  was  a woman  of  strong  character  and  remarkable 
accomplishments.  Through  careful  study,  she  gained  a thorough 
knowledge  of  medicine  and  surgery,  which  she  practiced  to  some  extent — 
very  unusual  gifts  and  an  almost  unheard-of  career  for  a woman  of 
her  day.  Mrs.  Mary  Davis  Walker  died  in  Iowa  in  1857,  her  son,  Moses 
B.,  being  then  at  the  height  of  his  standing  as  a citizen  of  Dayton,  Ohio. 

Until  he  was  seventeen  years  of  age  the  latter  attended  the  country 
schools  near  his  father’s  farm  in  the  Scioto  valley,  working  at  the  same 
time  to  assist  in  the  maintenance  of  the  household.  When  seventeen, 
he  entered  the  freshman  class  of  Augusta  College,  Kentucky,  and  after 
remaining  in  that  institution  for  two  years  went  to  Cincinnati,  where  he 
spent  a like  period  at  the  Woodward  Preparatory  School.  At  the  end 
of  his  three  years  at  Yale  University  he  was  obliged  to  return  home  on 
account  of  ill  health.  As  soon  as  he  was  able  to  resume  work,  he  com- 
menced the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Judge  Joseph  H.  Crane,  of 
Dayton,  and  afterward  attended  lectures  at  the  Cincinnati  Law  School, 
from  which  he  graduated  in  1845.  He  then  formed  a partnership  with 
H.  V.  R.  Lord,  opening  offices  at  Dayton  and  Germantown,  Ohio,  with 
himself  in  charge  of  the  former  and  Mr.  Lord,  of  the  latter.  Quite 
early  during  the  period  of  his  residence  in  Dayton  Mr.  Walker  became 
identified  with  both  the  civic  and  military  affairs  of  the  community,  at 
the  breaking  out  of  the  Mexican  war  holding  the  commission  of  major  of 
cavalry  in  the  state  troops.  This  he  resigned  to  raise  a company  of 
infantry,  but  before  an  organization  was  effected  an  order  came  to  accept 
no  more  troops ; Avhich  prevented  him  from  seeing  service  on  Mexican 
soil.  Continuing  his  law  practice  with  Mr.  Lord  until  the  death  of  his 
partner,  he  then  associated  himself  with  Judge  G.  B.  Holt,  an  eminent 
lawyer  of  Dayton,  under  the  firm  name  of  Walker,  Holt  & Walker,  the 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


587 


junior  member  of  which  was  a nephew  of  Moses  B.  The  senior  of  the 
firm  served  as  a member  of  the  Ohio  senate  in  1850-1,  and  Avas  an  unsuc- 
cessful congressional  nominee  in  1864  and  1866,  although  he  made  a 
remarkable  run  against  an  overwhelming  normal  majority  for  the 
Democracy. 

At  the  opening  of  the  Civil  war,  General  Walker  was  commissioned 
captain  of  the  Twelfth  United  States  Infantry,  but  through  his  friend, 
Salmon  P.  Chase,  he  was  appointed  colonel  of  the  Thirty-first  Ohio 
Infantry  and  assigned  to  the  army  of  the  Cumberland  under  General 
Thomas.  He  first  distinguished  himself  at  the  battle  of  Perryville. 
Fully  recognizing  his  high  standing  at  home  General  Rosecrans  sent  him 
to  Ohio  to  recruit  and  organize  troops.  Owing  to  the  unsettled  political 
situation  then  prevailing  and  the  bitter  feeling  existing  between  the  two 
parties,  these  duties  were  as  trying,  and  fully  as  important,  as  any  which 
could  have  been  assigned  to  him  at  the  front.  In  the  forming  and 
practical  organization  of  public  sentiment  toward  the  primary  end  of 
raising  troops  for  the  Union  cause,  General  Walker  accomplished  a 
wonderful  work,  his  stirring  addresses,  oral  and  printed,  arousing 
wide-spread  sympathy,  enthusiasm  and  action.  He  returned  to  the 
front  in  time  to  participate  in  the  battle  of  Stone  River,  as  commander 
of  the  first  brigade,  third  division,  fourteenth  army  corps.  He  also 
bore  a heroic  part  in  the  battle  of  Chickamauga.  in  which  he  was  severely 
wounded.  As  a result  he  was  not  only  publicly  commended  for  his 
brave  and  skillful  handling  of  troops,  but  on  March  27,  1865,  was  com- 
missioned brigadier  general  of  volunteers,  by  brevet,  and  major  and 
brevet  lieutenant  colonel  in  the  regular  army.  Subsequently  he  parti- 
cipated in  various  military  operations  at  Resaca,  Dalton,  Lookout  Moun- 
tain, Kenesaw  Mountain,  Peach  Tree  Creek.  Atlanta,  Jonesboro  and 
Nashville,  and  at  the  close  of  the  war  was  honorably  mustered  out  of  the 
service  as  a retired  colonel  of  the  Regular  army. 

Upon  his  return  to  Ohio.  General  Walker  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  the  law  at  Findlay,  but  in  1868  was  ordered  to  Texas  on  military  duty. 
His  professional  abilities  soon  earned  him  high  preferment  at  the  hands 
of  the  administration,  and  by  successive  appointments  he  served  both 
as  district  judge  and  as  a member  of  the  state  supreme  bench.  In  the 
latter  capacity  he  served  until  the  state  was  admitted  to  representation  in 
Congress,  his  colleagues  of  the  supreme  court  being  Judges  A.  J.  Hamil- 
ton. Morrell,  Lindsay  and  Dennison.  General  Walker  then  returned 
north,  settled  at  Kenton,  Ohio,  and  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion in  partnership  with  his  sons.  AVillis  and  John.  In  1879  he  retired 
to  his  farm  in  the  outskirts  of  that  place,  where  he  remained  until  his 
death,  December  17,  1895.  In  his  religious  faith,  the  deceased  was  a 
Methodist,  and  his  fraternal  connections  were  with  the  Masons,  Odd 
Fellows  and  his  comrades  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

General  Walker  wa s married,  November  10.  1842,  to  Miss  Maria  C. 
Van  Scoyke,  daughter  of  Tobias  and  Elizabeth  (Posey)  Van  Scoyke. 
The  father  was  a merchant  in  Franklin  and  Germantown.  Ohio,  who  gave 
his  daughter  a good  education,  partly  in  a private  school  of  Dayton. 
Mrs.  Maria  Walker  "died  at  Germantown,  July  3,  1853,  leaving  three 


588 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


children.  Of  these  Mary  Elizabeth  was  born  in  Germantown  and  is 
now  the  wife  of  John  T.  Carlin,  a retired  citizen  of  Perrysburg,  Ohio; 
John  0.  Walker,  a native  also  of  Germantown,  is  a graduate  of  the 
Michigan  University  Law  School,  practiced  for  a time  but  retired  on 
account  of  ill  health  and  lives  in  Kenton ; and  Antoinette,  who  was  horn 
at  Dayton,  is  now  the  widow  of  E.  F.  Cullen  and  a resident  of  Austin, 
Texas. 

On  May  1,  1855,  General  Walker  married,  as  his  second  wife,  Miss 
Mary  M.  Hitt,  the  ceremony  occurring  at  Vincennes,  Indiana.  She  was 
a daughter  of  Dr.  Willis  M.  and  Mary  (Reynolds)  Hitt,  both  of  Mary- 
land, the  latter  being  a descendant  of  Thomas  Smith,  a soldier  of  the 
Revolution.  The  second  Mrs.  Walker,  who  died  October  16,  1907,  at 
Kenton,  Ohio,  was  also  a cousin  of  the  late  Congressman  Robert  Hitt, 
of  Illinois.  The  children  of  the  second  union  were  as  follows:  Willis 

5.,  who  was  born  at  Germantown,  Ohio,  graduated  from  the  Law  School 
of  the  Michigan  University,  and  died  at  Spokane,  Washington,  January 
10,  1890,  being  then  engaged  in  practice  there;  Harriet  R.,  born  at 
Germantown,  educated  as  a vocalist,  married  L.  B.  Tyson  (now  a retired 
druggist  of  Kenton)  and  died  in  that  city,  November  25,  1907 ; Mozelle 

11.,  who  was  born  at  Dayton,  was  educated  as  an  artist,  and  married 
Eugene  Rogers,  a Kenton  druggist;  George  W.,  born  in  Dayton,  edu- 
cated at  Ohio  Northern  University,  West  Point  and  Ohio  State  Univer- 
sity, and  now  professor  of  mathematics  at  the  Pittsburg  high  school ; 
Bessie  F.  was  born  in  Findlay,  educated  at  Delaware  College,  Ohio,  and 
now  resides  in  Minneapolis,  Minnesota,  and  is  married  to  a dry  goods 
merchant  of  that  city;  Frank  W.,  also  a student  of  the  Ohio  State  Uni- 
versity (a  native  of  Findlay),  and  a traveling  salesman  residing  at 
Kenton;  Mary  L.,  who  was  born  in  Austin,  Texas,  was  educated  as  a 
musician  and  is  now  engaged  in  professional  work  at  Kenton ; anu 
De  La  Mar  E.  Walker,  born  at  Findlay,  also  educated  as  a musician,  and 
the  wife  of  Paul  Iv.  Strong,  an  architect  of  Kenton. 

The  American  ancestor  of  the  Ohio  branch  of  the  Walker  family 
to  which  General  Walker  belonged  was  John  Walker,  who  settled  in 
Maryland  with  Lord  Baltimore,  and  was  killed  in  the  Revolutionary 
war  at  the  battle  of  Eutaw  Springs. 

Anthony  Ramsey,  who  owns  and  occupies  a farm  of  ninety  acres 
in  Washington  township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  was  born  at  Kenton, 
this  county,  in  1840.  Here  he  grew  to  manhood,  receiving  his  education 
in  the  common  schools,  and  early  in  life  giving  his  attention  to  the  ship- 
ping of  stock.  This  business  he  followed  for  twenty-five  years.  He 
was  reared  on  a farm,  and  in  later  years  he  naturally  turned  to  the  farm 
again.  First,  he  bought  eighty  acres  in  Pleasant  township.  Afterward 
he  owned  other  farms,  aggregating  in  all  nine  hundred  sixty-five  acres. 

Mr.  Ramsey  is  a son  of  George  and  Lizzie  (Peifer)  Ramsey,  na- 
tives of  Germany,  who  emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  1836,  coming 
direct  to  Hardin  county.  Here  George  Ramsey  purchased  one  hundred 
acres  of  imclaimed  land.  He  was  the  first  man  in  Hardin  county  to 
do  any  milling.  His  mill  was  a portable  one,  operated  by  horse  power, 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


589 


and  while  he  conducted  business  on  a small  scale  it  was  sufficient  for 
those  pioneer  days.  Also  he  was  the  first  man  in  the  county  to  distill 
liquor.  By  trade  he  was  a tailor,  having  served  an  apprenticeship  in 
the  old  country;  but  in  the  new  country  in  which  they  had  settled  they 
found  new  conditions  to  which  they  adapted  themselves.  His  brothers 
had  learned  milling  and  distilling  in  Germany,  and  it  was  with  their 
assistance  that  he  engaged  in  these  occupations  here.  George  Ramsey 
was  the  father  of  four  children : Anthony,  Lizzie,  Maggie  and  George, 
deceased,  and  when  the  children  were  small  the  father  died,  his  death 
occurring  in  1849.  The  mother  lived  to  rear  her  little  family,  and  to 
reach  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty-six.  She  died  April  27,  1905.  The 
paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  Henry  Ramsey.  He  was  the 
head  of  the  family  which  emigrated  to  this  country  from  Germany  in 
1836,  as  above  stated,  and  his  children  were  George,  Lewis,  Anthony, 
Coen,  Dorotha  and  Lizzie.  The  maternal  grandfather  was  Michael 
Peifer,  also  a German.  The  Peifer  family  came  to  America  about  the 
time  the  Ramseys  did,  and  settled  at  Kenton.  The  children  of  Michael 
Peifer  were : Adam,  John.  Michael,  George,  Barbara  and  Lizzie. 

April  27,  1877,  Anthony  Ramsey  married  Miss  Rose,  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Harriet  Hufnagle,  who  bore  him  three  children : Hattie,  who 
married  Alexander  Eberhart  and  has  two  children,  Anna  and  Freder- 
ick ; Georgiana  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-four ; and  Mark.  Mrs. 
Ramsey  was  born  in  Crawford  county,  Ohio,  March  2,  1851.  Mr. 
Ramsey’s  mother  came  from  Germany. 

Dr.  W.  N.  Mundy,  a successful  physician  of  Forest,  was  born  in 
Jersey  City,  New  Jersey,  and  his  common  and  high  school  education  were 
acquired  in  New  York  city.  His  further  education  was  largely  ac- 
quired through  his  own  efforts,  and  he  is  a self-made  man.  He  is  a son 
of  William  N.  and  Margaret  J.  (Harris)  Mundy,  both  natives  of  New 
Jersey;  they,  had  four  children,  namely:  John.  Mary,  Lavina  and 
William  N.  William  N.  Mundy,  Sr.,  served  in  the  Civil  war,  in  the 
Eighth  New  Jersey  Volunteer  Infantry,  for  three  years  and  three 
months.  After  serving  the  short  term  for  which  he  first  enlisted  he 
reenlisted.  He  ivas  promoted  from  rank  of  private  to  commissary 
sergeant  of  his  company.  William  N.  Mundy  was  son  of  Edward  N. 
Mundy,  a soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  The  Mundy  and  Harris  families 
are  of  English  origin,  and  members  of  both  families  took  part  in  the 
Revolution. 

The  Doctor  received  his  medical  education  at  The  Eclectic  Medical 
College  of  Cincinnati,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1883.  In  1888  he 
entered  NeAv  York  Post  Graduate  Medical  School  and  pursued  a post 
graduate  course,  and  in  1891  he  took  a special  course  in  diseases  of  the 
eye  and  ear,  in  treating  which  organs  he  is  a specialist.  Dr.  Mundy  was 
living  in  Forest  in  1875,  being  then  a poor  youth,  though  he  had  ambi- 
tion and  energy  to  better  his  position  in  life.  In  1883  he  returned  to 
Forest,  for  the  practice  of  his  profession,  and  with  a bright  future  before 
him,  whose  promise  has  been  realized.  He  is  noAv  accorded  a high  place 
in  his  profession,  and  has  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  community. 

Vol.  II— 10 


590 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Dr.  Mundy  is  editor  of  the  Ohio  State  Eclectic  Medical  Journal , 
and  secretary  of  the  Ohio  State  Eclectic  Medical  Association.  He  is 
an  instructor  in  the  Eclectic  Medical  Institute,  of  Cincinnati,  on  diseases 
of  children,  which  post  he  has  held  since  1894.  He  takes  a special 
interest  in  this  institution,  being  himself  one  of  its  graduates.  Dr. 
Mundy  is  the  author  of  a work  on  Diseases  of  Children  and  takes  an 
intense  interest  in  this  very  important  subject.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Northwestern  Ohio  Eclectic  Medical  Association,  also  a member  of  the 
National  Eclectic  Medical  Association  of  which  he  is  corresponding 
secretary  and  editor  of  its  journal. 

At  present  Dr.  Mundy  is  a member  of  the  school  board  of  Forest,  in 
which  capacity  he  has  served  eighteen  years.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  is  Past  Grand  Patriarch  of 
Ohio.  He  is  also  Past  Grand  Representative  of  the  state.  In  1883  Dr. 
Mundy  married  Maggie  J.,  daughter  of  J.  K.  and  Lucinda  Waltermire 
a native  of  Wyandot  county.  This  union  has  been  blessed  with  two 
children,  Carl  S.  and  Giles  J. 

Martin  Luther  Snyder. — A public-spirited  and  influential  citizen 
of  Ada,  Martin  Luther  Snyder  is  widely  and  favorably  known  as  junior 
member  of  the  enterprising  firm  of  Parlette  & Snyder,  publishers  of 
the  University  Herald,  and  job  printers.  A son  of  the  late  Daniel 
Snyder,  he  was  born  in  Somerset  county,  Pennsylvania,  April  13,  1865, 
of  German  ancestry.  His  great-grandfather,  DeWalt  Snyder,  was  born 
in  Germany,  where  his  surname  was  spelled  Schneider.  Emigrating  to 
the  United  States  in  early  manhood,  he  became  a pioneer  settler  of 
Somerset  county,  and  took  an  active  part,  in  the  advancement  of  its 
agricultural  interests.  Jacob  Snyder,  the  grandfather  of  Martin  Luther, 
was  a life-long  resident  of  Pennsylvania,  and  a successful  farmer. 

Daniel  Snyder  was  born,  reared  and  educated  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
during  his  active  life  was  engaged  in  tilling  the  soil  in  Rockwood, 
Somerset  county,  living  there  until  his  death,  in  1891.  He  married 
Eliza  Miller,  who  was  born  in  Somerset  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  her 
father,  Jonathan  Miller,  was  for  many  years  owner  and  manager  of  a 
grist  mill.  She  is  now  living  in  Davenport,  Nebraska,  a venerable  and 
esteemed  woman  of  eighty-two  years. 

The  seventh  child  in  order  of  birth  of  a family  of  eight  children, 
Martin  Luther  Snyder  spent  his  boyhood  days  on  the  home  farm,  obtain- 
ing his  early  education  in  the  district  schools.  He  subsequently  took 
special  studies  winters  at  the  State  Normal  schools,  and  at  the  age  of 
seventeen  years  began  his  career  as  a teacher,  and  taught  several  terms. 
Going  to  Nebraska  in  1883,  Mr.  Snyder  remained  there  five  years,  being 
engaged  in  general  farming  in  Richardson  county.  Being  then  recalled 
to  Pennsylvania  on  account  of  the  serious  illness  of  his  father,  he  taught 
school  in  his  old  home  township  until  1891.  Locating  then  in  Ada, 
Ohio,  Mr.  Snyder  entered  the  classical  department  of  the  Ohio  Northern 
University,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1894.  In  1895  he  bought 
the  half  interest  of  E.  E.  McCoppin  in  the  University  Herald  and  job 
printing  office,  then  owned  by  Parlette  & McCoppin,  and  has  since 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


591 


carried  on  a substantial  printing  business  as  junior  member  of  the  firm 
of  Parlette  & Snyder. 

Since  1890  Mr.  Parlette  has  devoted  the  greater  part  of  his  time  to 
the  lecture  platform,  and  Mr.  Snyder  has  had  full  control  of  the  plant, 
where  he  does  general  job  printing,  book  work,  and  in  addition  publishes 
the  University  Herald,  a weekly  publication,  which  was  established  in 
1885. 

Mr.  Snyder  married,  November  26,  1895,  Ola  Estella  Feiss,  a 
daughter  of  Gustavus  and  Sarilda  Feiss,  of  Lima,  Ohio,  and  to  them  five 
children  have  been  born,  namely:  Barton  F..  Ruth  L.,  Lowell  F.,  Edith 
M.,  and  Ralph  L.  Mr.  Snyder  is  an  earnest  supporter  of  the  principles 
of  the  Republican  party,  and  active  in  public  affairs.  He  is  a consistent 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  is  chairman  of  its  board  of 
trustees. 

Riley  Park  McElroy,  M.  D.,  a prominent  physician  of  Ada,  Ohio, 
dates  his  birth  in  Hancock  county,  this  state,  May  13,  1871,  and  is  the 
only  son  and  youngest  child  of  George  W.  and  Sarah  (Parks)  McElroy. 
George  W.  McElroy  was  a native  of  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  and  by 
occupation  was  a farmer.  He  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-six  years.  His 
widow,  a native  of  Hancock  county,  is  still  living  there,  she  and  her 
daughter,  Mary  Celesta,  occupying  the  old  home. 

Riley  P.  was  reared  on  his  father ’s  farm  and  studied  his  first  lessons 
in  a district  school.  By  applying  himself  closely  to  his  books,  he 
qualified  for  the  position  of  teacher  before  he  emerged  from  his  teens, 
and  by  teaching  he  paved  his  way  to  higher  education  and  to  a pro- 
fessional career.  In  the  meantime  he  took  a course  at  Findlay  College 
and  is  a graduate  of  the  latter  with  the  class  of  1896.  Beginning  at  the 
age  of  eighteen  he  taught  country  school  four  winters  in  Hardin  county, 
and  subsequently  was  for  three  years  an  instructor  in  Defiance  College. 
He  spent  four  years  attending  the  Baltimore  Medical  College,  where  he 
graduated  in  1903  and  afterward  took  special  hospital  work  at  Baltimore, 
and  a course  in  the  New  York  Post  Graduate  School.  After  his  gradu- 
ation in  1903,  he  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Ada, 
where  he  has  since  continued  successfully.  He  is  a member  of  both 
the  Hardin  County  Medical  and  the  State  Medical  Societies. 

Dr.  McElroy  is  interested  in  farming,  having  a farm  in  Hancock 
county  and  one  in  Hardin  county.  Politically  he  is  a Republican.  He 
married,  in  1902,  Miss  Cora  Motter  daughter  of  John  Motter. 

William  Stoll  is  one  of  the  young  and  influential  agriculturists 
of  Washington  township,  where  he  resides  on  a valuable  farm  of  two 
hundred  and  forty  acres.  He  was  born  in  Pleasant  township  of  Har- 
din county,  March  17,  1878,  being  there  also  reared  and  educated,  and 
starting  in  life  for  himself  he  chose  the  vocation  of  his  ancestors.  He 
is  a grandson  on  the  paternal  side  of  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Hardin 
county,  Conrad  Stoll,  who  was  born  in  Germany,  and  his  children  were 
Eliza,  Maggie,  Betty,  George,  Casper.  John  and  Mrs.  Andrews. 

George  C.  Stoll,  of  the  above  family,  was  born  in  Hardin  county 


592 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


and  has  long  been  numbered  among  its  most  influential  business  men 
and  farmers.  In  addition  to  the  estate  of  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres  on  which  his  son  resides  and  superintends  he  has  also  a farm  of 
eighty  acres  in  Pleasant  township,  this  latter  being  his  homestead.  He 
married  in  his  early  life  Emma  Reese,  a native  daughter  of  Gfermany, 
and  five  children  have  been  born  to  them,  namely : William,  Philip,  Julia, 
Millie  and  Mary,  but  the  last  named  is  deceased.  William  Stoll,  their 
elder  son,  married  on  the  3d  of  May,  1904,  Miss  Electa  Haynes,  born  in 
Goshen  township,  Hardin  county,  in  1883,  and  a son,  Kenneth,  has  been 
born  to  them.  Mrs.  Stoll  belongs  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
Mr.  Stoll  is  a member  of  the  Masonic  order. 

Robert  A.  Dempster,  a respected  citizen  of  Marion  township,  Har- 
din coTinty,  Ohio,  was  born  November  13,  1839,  in  Franklin  township, 
Harrison  county,  this  state,  and  is  a son  of  early  pioneers  of  the  Western 
Reserve.  His  paternal  grandparents,  Robert  and  Eliza  (Hunter) 
Dempster,  were  of  Scotch  descent  and  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 
Their  son,  John  W.  Dempster,  the  father  of  Robert  A.,  was  born  in 
Jefferson,  Ohio,  August  7.  1817,  and  died  October  3,  1904.  He  married 
in  Tuscarawas  county,  Ohio,  March  29,  1838,  Miss  Florania  Huston, 
a native  of  Harrison  county,  this  state,  born  May  20,  1820.  Of  the 
eight  children  born  to  them,  four  are  now  living:  Robert  A.,  Jacob, 

Catherine  and  W.  Perry. 

Robert  A.  Dempster  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm  attending  dis- 
trict school  in  winter  and  working  in  the  fields  in  summer.  About  the 
time  he  reached  his  majority  the  Civil  war  came  on,  and  he  was  among 
the  first  to  tender  his  services  to  the  Union  cause.  He  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany K,  33rd  Ohio  Volunteers,  for  three-months  service,  but  was  not 
called  out,  and  was  discharged  in  the  fall.  In  August,  1862,  he  again 
enlisted,  this  time  as  a member  of  Company  E,  13th  Ohio  Volunteers, 
and  with  his  command  joined  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland.  A short 
time  before  the  battle  of  Stone  river,  he  was  taken  down  with  pneumonia 
and  was  disabled  for  field  service,  but  was  on  duty  in  hospital  as  medi- 
cal cadet.  He  was  honorably  discharged,  and  was  mustered  out  June, 
28,  1865. 

That  same  year,  1865,  he  was  married  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  the  lady 
of  his  choice  being  Miss  Mary  J.  Possnett,  a native  of  Pennsylvania, 
born  June  25,  1838.  Her  father,  William  Possnett,  was  a native  of 
Stockport,  England.  He  was  pressed  into  the  English  navy  when  a boy 
and  spent  some  time  on  a man-of-war  vessel.  In  1815  he  was  a partici- 
pant in  the  battle  of  Waterloo.  Tie  was  born  in  1800,  and  died  in  1884. 
His  wife,  Margaret  (Peacock)  Possnett,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  of 
Dutch  parentage,  in  1807,  and  died  in  1891.  For  many  years  they  lived 
in  Cincinnati,  where  their  daughter,  Mrs.  Dempster,  was  reared.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dempster  seven  children  were  given,  three  of  whom  are 
living:  William  J.  W.,  of  Lima,  Ohio;  Alice,  and  Maude,  the  latter 
being  the  wife  of  Clark  P.  Henders  of  Westminster,  Ohio,  and  Miss 
Alice  lives  with  her  parents. 

Mr.  Dempster  is  a member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  and,  politically,  is  a 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


593 


Republican.  He  and  his  family  are  identified  with  the  United  Brethren 
church  at  Herrod,  in  which  for  a period  of  twenty-one  years  he  has 
served  as  quarterly  conference  secretary.  Both  he  and  his  daughter 
Alice  are  active  in  Sunday  school  work,  he  being  superintendent  and 
she  a teacher. 

Charles  Corwin,  a prominent  farmer  and  stockman  of  Taylor 
Creek  township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  is  a native  of  the  county,  born  in 
Hale  township,  September  8,  1855.  He  is  a son  of  George  W.  and  Rosa 
Jane  (Eddy)  Corwin,  old  settlers  of  the  township.  George  was  a son 
of  Daniel  Corwin,  who  died  in  1900,  at  the  age  of  eigthy-eight  years. 
He  married  Nancy  Williams  and  they  came  to  Ohio  from  Pennsylvania, 
in  1827,  settling  in  Logan  county  in  1827  and  in  1813  removing  to 
Hardin  county.  Mrs.  Corwin  died  in  1851  and  in  the  sixties  Mr.  Cor- 
win married  Mary  Ann  Bruce.  He  purchased  part  of  the  farm  which 
is  still  in  the  family,  after  first  renting  part  of  the  Eddy  farm,  and 
later  farmed  for  Samuel  McCullough.  After  his  second  marriage 
Mr.  Corwin  removed  to  New  Scotland  county,  Missouri,  where  Mrs. 
Corwin  died  in  1882. 

George  W.  Corwin  was  born  in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  May  10,  1831, 
and  died  April  22,  1907.  He  received  his  education  in  the  district 
schools  and  remained  on  the  home  farm  with  his  parents  until  his  mar- 
riage, May  3,  1852.  He  then  worked  two  years  in  the  employ  of  his 
uncle  in  Logan  county,  but  returned  to  Hardin  county  and  lived  on 
the  old  Eddy  farm  nine  years.  In  1861  Mr.  Corwin  bought  the  present 
homestead  of  the  family,  which  had  but  one  acre  cleared.  He  built  a 
log  house  near  the  Ansley  home  and  here  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life  farming  and  raising  stock.  In  1876  Mr.  Corwin  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  tile,  which  business  he  afterward  sold.  He  also  did 
considerable  timber  working.  He  was  a member  of  the  Local  Grange 
and  politically  was  a Democrat.  His  wife  was  born  May  7,  1833,  and 
was  a daughter  of  James  and  Elizabeth  (Zimmerman)  Eddy,  who  came 
to  Hardin  county  from  Virginia,  in  1835.  Mr.  Eddy  died  January  12, 
1857  and  his'  widow  died  March  26,  1868.  Mr.  Corwin  was  a member 
of  the  Methodist  church.  Besides  Charles,  he  and  his  wife  had  children 
as  follows:  J.  D.  born  in  1853,  now  living  in  Missouri,  married  Launa 
Rummer,  has  three  children,  Pearl,  Cora  and  Elbert;  Gnettia,  wife  of  H. 
Ash  of  Marion,  has  five  children,  Ella,  Evert,  Earl,  Floyd  and  Edwin; 
George  A.  of  Hale  township,  born  in  1861,  married  Edith  Marmon,  and 
has  three  children,  Fae,  Albert  and  Olen;  Harley,  born  in  1875,  a farmer 
of  Hale  township,  married  Laura  Deerwester,  has  two  children,  Erwin 
and  Elton ; Annabell  is  the  wife  of  II.  Carr  and  has  two  children,  Mav- 
dean  and  Eddie  Herbert;  Elizabeth  S.  married  G.  McCoy  and  is  the 
mother  of  five  children,  Ola,  Jessie,  Rosa,  and  Lillie  and  Hattie,  deceased; 
Leander  Corwin  is  deceased  and  Charles  is  the  second  child  of  the  family. 

The  early  days  of  Charles  Corwin  were  spent  on  his  father’s  farm 
and  he  received  a good  education  in  the  public  schools.  He  lived  with 
his  parents  until  he  was  twenty-eight  years  of  age  and  then  purchased 
a farm  of  forty-two  acres.  He  has  been  very  successful  in  his  farming 


594 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


operations  and  has  paid  considerable  attention  to  fine  stocks.  He  owns 
an  interest  in  a thoroughbred  horse  in  company  with  Ezra  Vassar,  a 
sketch  of  whom  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Mr.  Corwin  has  won 
success  through  his  own  efforts  and  is  well  known  for  his  industry  and 
good  business  judgment.  Near  his  present  home  stands  the  old  log 
house  in  which  he  was  born,  an  old  land-mark,  which  he  moved  to 
its  present  position.  He  is  a substantial  and  representative  citizen  and 
has  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all  who  know  him.  He  is  a member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  belongs  to  the  Grange  at  Shiloh. 

November  8,  1883,  Mr.  Corwin  married  Jennie  McCoy,  who  was  born 
August  7,  1865,  in  Lynn  township,  Hardin  county,  daughter  of  John 
McCoy,  an  old  pioneer  of  the  county,  who  died  in  1884.  His  wife,  Mary 
Taylor,  was  a daughter  of  James  Taylor.  Mrs.  McCoy  died  at  the  age 
of  forty-six  years,  when  Mrs.  Corwin  was  but  seven  years  of  age.  Mrs. 
Corwin  had  one  brother  who  died  in  infancy.  After  the  death  of  her 
mother,  Mrs.  Corwin  remained  two  years  with  her  half-sister.  Mr. 
Corwin  and  his  wife  became  parents  of  children  as  follows:  Izora,  born 

in  September,  1884,  wife  of  Melvin  McIntosh,  a farmer  of  Logan  county, 
has  three  children,  Howard  (six  years  old),  Mildred  Pauline  (three  years 
old),  and  Opal  Lucille  (one  year  old)  ; Otis  Dan,  born  May  24,  1886, 
at  home;  Mamie,  born  January  20,  1889,  wife  of  P.  D.  Winter,  of  Hale 
township;  Waldo  Hayes,  born  April  29,  1891,  at  home;  Ruth,  born 
July  26,  1893,  died  in  infancy;  Lena,  born  April  6,  1895;  Clarence  M., 
born  January  24,  1898;  and  George  Ralph,  born  June  26,  1901.  Mrs. 
Corwin  belongs  to  the  Methodist  church  and  to  the  Grange.  She  is 
a member,  also  of  the  Woman’s  Relief  Corps. 

Joel  L.  Russell. — Among  the  sterling  citizens  of  Hardin  county 
whose  memories  form  an  indissoluble  link  between  the  pioneer  past  and 
the  present  days  of  opulent  prosperity  and  advanced  civilization  is 
Joel  L.  Russell,  who  is  a native  son  of  the  county  and  who  has  here 
maintained  his  home  during  his  entire  life  thus  far.  He  was  for  many 
years  identified  with  agricultural  interests  in  the  county  and  contri- 
buted his  quota  to  the  development  anti  upbuilding  of  the  county  which 
represented  little  more  than  an  untrammeled  wilderness  at  the  time  of 
his  birth.  He  is  now  living  retired  in  the  city  of  Kenton,  where  he  has 
an  attractive  home  and  is  surrounded  by  the  gracious  influences  and 
comforts  which  are  a just  reward  for  former  years  of  earnest  toil  and 
endeavor.  His  reminiscences  of  the  pioneer  days  are  most  graphic 
and  interesting,  and  he  finds  much  pleasure  in  recalling  the  days  long 
past,  the  while  he  has  full  appreciation  of  the  conditions  that  now  stand 
in  evidence  of  the  sturdy  labors  of  those  who  laid  the  foundations  for 
one  of  the  finest  counties  in  the  old  Buckeye  state. 

Joel  L.  Russell  was  born  on  the  pioneer  farm  of  his  parents,  in 
Pleasant  township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  on  the  13th  of  December, 
1838,  and  is  a son  of  Solomon  and  Elizabeth  (Brown)  Russell,  the  former 
of  whom  was  born  in  Rockingham  county,  Virginia,  in  1803,  and  the 
latter  of  whom  was  born  in  Baltimore  county,  Maryland,  on  the  12th 
of  November,  1804.  The  marriage  of  the  parents  was  solemnized  on 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


595 


the  1st  of  October,  1824,  and  upon  coming  to  Ohio  they  first  settled  in 
Fairfield  county,  where  they  remained  a few  years.  In  the  spring  of 
1833  they  removed  to  Hardin  county,  where  the  father  secured  from 
the  government  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  heavily  timbered  land 
in  Pleasant  township,  the  family  living  and  sleeping  in  the  wagon,  while 
the  father  proceeded  to  chop  away  the  timber  and  clear  a place  to  build 
his  cabin.  Only  those  who  know  by  experience  the  herculean  work 
demanded  in  the  uprearing  of  the  simple  log  buildings  of  the  pioneer 
days  can  appreciate  the  necessity  of  each  settler’s  securing  the  co- 
operation of  his  neighbors,  and  it  is  pleasing  to  revert  to  the  good  will 
and  sympathy  that  marked  the  early  days,  when  all  were  friends  and 
when  the  society  of  the  widely  separated  neighbors  was  highly  valued. 
In  the  years  1834-35  the  county  commenced  to  settle  up  very  fast  and 
were  all  anxious  to  get  a field  cleared  for  corn,  and  father  attended 
twenty-eight  log  rollings  in  one  spring.  He  lived  up  to  the  full  tension  of 
the  pioneer  days  and  worked  without  ceasing  in  the  reclamation  of  his 
land,  that  he  might  provide  for  his  family  and  eventually  gain  the  goal 
of  definite  independence  and  prosperity.  He  continued  to  reside  on 
his  pioneer  homestead  until  death,  which  occurred  when  he  was  only 
thirty-seven  years  of  age,  but  his  wife  survived  him  by  a number  of 
years,  she  having  been  about  eighty-five  years  of  age  at  the  time  when 
she  was  summoned  to  the  life  eternal.  They  were  folk  of  sterling 
integrity  of  character,  earnest,  sincere  and  unassuming,  and  they  ever 
commanded  the  unqualified  esteem  of  the  community  in  which  they 
established  their  home  and  girded  themselves  to  endure  the  privations 
and  other  hardships  that  are  ever  the  lot  of  the  pioneer.  Of  the  seven 
children  only  two  are  now  living,  Joel  L.,  who  is  the  immediate  subject 
of  this  review,  and  Richard  S.,  who  is  a successful  farmer  near  the  city 
of  Indianapolis,  Indiana. 

In  a reminiscent  way  Joel  L.  Russell  related  to  the  representative 
of  this  publication  a most  interesting  and  somewhat  humorous  account 
of  an  incident  that  occurred  when  he  was  an  infant,  the  same  being 
largely  a conversation  between  his  honored  parents,  who  described  the 
matter  to  him  after  he  had  attained  to  years  of  comprehension.  The 
narrative  is  reproduced  substantially  in  his  own  words,  and  it  will 
be  noted  that  his  father  referred  to  the  mother  under  the  home  name 
of  Betty,  an  affectionate  abbreviation  of  her  name  Elizabeth.  The 
following  is  Mr.  Russell’s  account. 

“In  the  spring  of  1839,  I was  the  boy  of  the  family  the  sixth  on 
the  list.  Mother  was  very  discouraged  at  the  gloomy  prospects,  thinking 
at  times  that  all  of  us  were  destined  to  die  of  starvation  in  the  wilder- 
ness about  us.  Father,  however,  never  yielded  to  discouragement  and 
his  faith  never  faltered.  At  that  time  no  roads  or  bridges  had  been 
constructed  in  this  section,  and  the  nearest  mill  available  to  the  settlers 
of  Hardin  county  was  nine  miles  distant,  at  Marseilles,  Wyandot  county, 
whither  they  had  to  make  their  way  over  the  straggling  trails  blazed 
through  the  forest.  A mill  had  been  erected  on  the  Scioto  river,  but 
the  same  was  out  of  commission  at  the  time  mentioned.  Flour  was  to 
be  had  in  the  little  village  of  Kenton,  but  money  among  the  settlers 


596 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


was  practicality  an  unknown  quantity,  so  that  my  father  was  in  no 
worse  situation  than  the  average  settler.  On  a certain  Saturday  he 
was  busy  working  in  his  maple-sugar  camp,  and  he  said  to  his  wife, 
‘Betty,  we  will  have  sugar  and  molasses  and  honey  and  venison,  so 
that  we  can  feast  like  royal  Turks.  Yes,  there  are  turkeys  also, — the 
woods  are  full  of  them.  If  I don’t  sleep  well  tonight  I’ll  have  one  for 
Sunday  dinner.’  When  my  mother  awoke  in  the  morning  my  good 
father,  Solomon,  was  gone,  as  was  also  his  rifle,  which  hung  on  hooks 
over  the  door  when  not  in  use.  Just  then  my  mother  heard  a shot,  and 
she  forthwith  came  to  the  conclusion  that  father  had  killed  a turkey, 
so  she  put  the  kettle  over  the  fire  of  the  great  fireplace  and  prepared 
to  have  hot  water  ready  for  the  scalding  of  the  savory  fowl.  But  her 
religious  scruples  were  somewhat  roused  and  she  said  to  herself,  ‘Solo- 
mon will  hear  from  me  when  he  comes  with  that  turkey.  Why  did 
he  go  to  the  woods  on  Sunday  ? He  never  did  that  before.  ’ My  father, 
like  many  other  of  the  sturdy  men  on  the  frontier,  was  a good  shot 
and  found  much  satisfaction  in  his  hunting  trips.  When  he  arrived 
at  the  house  my  mother  chided  him  for  his  desecration  of  the  Sabbath, 
but  she  gazed  with  no  little  amazement  at  the  trophy  he  had  brought  in 
place  of  the  promised  turkey.  The  woods  were  infested  with  innumer- 
able wolves,  whose  ravages  made  it  almost  impossible  for  the  settlers 
to  keep  sheep,  which  had  to  be  placed  in  a correl  every  night  for  pro- 
tection. So  great  was  the  loss  caused  by  the  wolves  that  the  authorities 
provided  for  the  payment  of  five  dollars  for  each  wolf  scalp  brought 
to  them.  When  father  came  to  the  house  he  said,  ‘Look,  Betty,’  where- 
upon he  dropped  a great,  gray  timber-wolf  pelt  and  scalp  on  the  floor. 
‘Providence  gave  them  to  me,  and  we  won’t  starve.’  Father  was  an 
adept  in  dressing  skins  and  he  transformed  the  wolf  pelt  into  a nice 
rug,  while  he  took  the  scalp  to  Kenton  and  received  the  five  dollars  in 
bounty,  thus  enabling  him  to  provide  the  flour  whose  lack  had  caused 
my  mother  so  much  distress  and  worry.  My  father  admonished  my 
mother  to  always  trust  in  Providence,  and  her  reply  was:  ‘But, 

Solomon,  don’t  go  again  to  the  woods  on  Sunday.’  And  he  never  did.” 

In  politics  Solomon  Russell  was  aligned  as  a stanch  supporter  of 
the  cause  of  the  old  Whig  party  and  he  took  a loyal  interest  in  public 
affairs  in  the  pioneer  community.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were  earnest 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  their  lives  were  lived  in 
harmony  with  the  faith  they  professed.  Their  names  merit  an  enduring 
place  on  the  roll  of  the  worthy  pioneers  who  aided  in  the  initial  stages  of 
development  and  progress  in  this  now  favored  section  of  the  old  Buckeye 
state. 

Joel  L.  Russell,  whose  name  initiates  this  sketch,  was  reared  to  the 
sturdy  discipline  of  the  pioneer  farm,  and,  as  may  be  supposed,  his 
early  educational  advantages  were  most  meager.  When  but  ten  years 
of  age  he  found  it  incumbent  upon  him  to  begin  to  provide  for  himself 
and  assist  in  the  support  of  the  family.  At  that  early  age  he  found 
employment  on  neighboring  farms,  and  for  some  time  he  received  in 
recompense  for  his  services  the  princely  sum  of  four  dollars  a month. 
Later  he  secured  a position  as  engine-rubber  for  the  Mad  River  & Lake 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


597 


Erie  Railroad  Company,  which  line  is  now  a part  of  the  great  New  York 
Central  System,  and  after  a short  period  he  was  given  employment  as 
a helper  on  an  engine  making  regular  runs  over  the  line,  his  duties 
being  to  pass  wood  to  the  fireman  on  one  of  the  old-style  engines.  He 
was  thus  engaged  about  six  months,  at  the  expiration  of  which  his 
guardian,  appointed  after  the  death  of  his  father,  caused  him  to  resign, 
considering  the  work  too  dangerous.  He  then  resumed  farm  work 
at  the  former  recompense  of  four  dollars  a month  and  board,  and  he 
continued  to  be  identified  with  agricultural  pursuits  as  an  employe  for 
a period  of  thirteen  years,  securing  increase  in  wages  from  time  to 
time  as  his  services  became  more  valuable.  He  gained  experience  in 
all  details  of  farm  work  and  was  thus  well  fortified  for  successful  enter- 
prise when  he  initiated  his  independent  career  as  a farmer  and  stock- 
grower. 

Mr.  Russell  was  about  twenty-five  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his 
marriage,  and  he  forthwith  settled  on  a farm  which  he  had  inherited 
from  the  estate  of  his  father.  This  property  comprised  fifty-three  and 
a third  acres  and  was  located  in  Pleasant  township.  He  improved  the 
property  and  developed  the  same  into  one  of  the  valuable  farms  of 
Hardin  county.  With  the  passing  of  years  his  success  was  cumulative 
and  he  finally  gained  independence  and  substantial  competency.  He 
added  to  the  area  of  his  original  farm  until  he  owned  a valuable  landed 
estate  of  eighty  acres,  improved  with  good  buildings  and  maintained 
under  a high  state  of  cultivation.  For  fully  forty  years  Mr.  Russell 
continued  to  reside  on  his  farm  and  to  give  his  attention  to  its  super- 
vision, and  he  then  felt  that  he  was  entitled  to  retire  from  the  heavy 
labors  that  had  thus  marked  his  active  career.  Accordingly,  in  Novem- 
ber, 1904,  he  sold  his  farm  and  removed  to  Kenton,  where  he  purchased 
his  present  attractive  and  modern  residence  property,  on  West  Colum- 
bus avenue,  where  he  and  his  wife  find  much  of  pleasure  in  extending 
gracious  hospitality  to  their  wide  circle  of  old  and  valued  friends. 

In  polities  Mr.  Russell  has  ever  accorded  an  unswerving  allegiance 
to  the  Republican  party,  and  he  cast  his  first  vote  in  support  of  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  for  the  presidency.  In  local  affairs  of  a public  order  he 
has  ever  shown  a loyal  and  helpful  interest,  and  while  he  has  never  been 
a seeker  of  office,  he  served  as  school  director  in  his  home  township 
for  the  long  period  of  twenty-four  years,  during  which  lie  did  all  in 
his  power  to  advance  the  standard  of  the  schools  of  the  locality.  In 
a retrospective  way  it  may  be  stated  that  his  maternal  grandfather, 
Richard  Brown,  was  likewise  a sterling  pioneer  of  Maryland,  and  that 
he  was  a valiant  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  Mr.  Russell  is  well  known 
in  his  native  county,  and  here  he  has  ever  command  unequivocal  con- 
fidence and  esteem.  He  and  his  wife  hold  membership  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  in  Kenton. 

On  the  26th  of  November,  1863,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Russell  to  Miss  Rebecca  A.  Allen,  who  was  born  in  Hardin  county, 
on  the  9th  of  March,  1838,  and  who  is  a daughter  of  Abel  II.  and  Rebecca 
(Mackey)  Allen,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  Hardy  county,  West 
Virginia,  November  7,  1803,  and  the  latter  of  whom  was  born  in  Frank- 


598 


HISTORY  OF  IIARDIN  COUNTY 


lin  county,  Ohio,  on  the  12th  of  July,  1810.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Allen  took 
up  their  residence  in  Hardin  county  in  the  spring  of  1833,  and  he 
assisted  in  raising  the  first  house  in  Kenton,  the  same  having  been  lo- 
cated on  what  is  now  West  Franklin  street.  In  the  early  days  he  carried 
mail  on  horseback  between  Bellefontaine  and  Sandusky,  his  horse  having 
to  swim  all  the  rivers  between  those  places.  He  became  one  of  the 
substantial  farmers  of  Hardin  county,  where  both  he  and  his  wife  con- 
tinued to  reside  until  death.  In  conclusion  is  entered  a brief  record 
concerning  the  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Russell;  Jessie,  who  was  born  on 
the  30th  of  December,  1865,  is  the  wife  of  William  H.  Young,  of  Tiffin, 
Ohio;  Eva  Estella,  who  was  born  April  5,  1871,  is  the  wife  of  William  S. 
Cessna,  of  Kenton,  Ohio,  and  they  have  one  child,  Mary  Rebecca,  the 
only  grandchild  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Russell ; and  M.  Allen  Russell,  who 
was  born  on  the  8th  of  December,  1873,  is  a locomotive  engineer  and 
maintains  his  home  in  Kenton  with  his  parents ; he  is  not  married. 

Carl  Price. — The  name  of  Carl  Price  occupies  a high  place  in  the 
business  life  of  Kenton,  and  he  has  attained  his  prestige  by  personal 
effort.  He  was  born  in  this  city,  a son  of  Henry  Price,  and  the  training 
which  he  received  in  the  Kenton  public  schools  was  supplemented 
by  a business  course  in  the  Ohio  Northern  University  at  Ada.  In  1893 
he  purchased  a half  interest  of  Dorr  White  in  the  old  White  Marble 
Works  in  this  city,  an  industry  that  had  been  established  by  Mr. 
White’s  father  in  about  the  year  of  1853,  and  in  1903  Mr.  Price  bought 
his  partner’s  interest  in  the  business  and  in  1904  incorporated  it  for 
twenty-five  thousand  dollars,  becoming  at  that  time  and  ever  since 
remaining  its  president.  He  moved  the  plant  from  South  Main  street, 
where  it  had  been  located  up  to  this  time,  to  Leighton  street,  where  a 
splendid  two-story  brick  building  has  been  erected  and  equipped  with 
a complete  set  of  the  latest  improved  machinery  for  manufacturing 
marble  and  granite  in  all  its  forms.  This  is  one  of  only  about  ten 
plants  of  its  kind  in  the  entire  state  of  Ohio,  and  as  the  others  are  lo- 
cated in  the  state’s  largest  cities,  Kenton  has  the  distinction  of  having 
the  largest  and  best  equipped  manufacturing  plant  of  its  kind  in  any 
town  of  its  size  in  Ohio,  and  this  has  been  brought  about  almost  solely 
through  the  splendid  efforts  of  Carl  Price,  one  of  Kenton’s  native 
sons. 

Mr.  Price  is  a Knight  Templar  Mason  and  a Knight  of  Pythias, 
and  he  is  one  of  the  leading  members  of  Kenton’s  Disciple  church.  He 
is  also  the  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school  connected  with  his 
church,  which  has  a membership  of  over  four  hundred,  and  he  takes  a 
deep  interest  in  the  work  and  is  one  of  the  Sunday-school’s  valued 
promoters.  He  has  never  been  active  in  the  political  life  of  his  commun- 
ity, but  is  a public-spirited  citizen  and  actively  interested  in  the  up- 
building and  improvement  of  his  home  city. 

John  Neff  of  Washington  township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  is  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  prosperous  farmers  and  highly  respected  citizens 
of  his  community.  Mr.  Neff  is  a native  of  Ohio.  He  was  born  in 


■ 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


599 


Van  Buren  township,  Hancock  county,  in  1854,  son  of  Peter  and  Bar- 
bara (Peifer)  Neff,  natives  of  Germany,  who  emigrated  to  this  country 
in  1884  and  settled  in  Hancock  county.  Peter  Neff’s  first  purchase  of 
land  was  forty  acres.  Afterward  he  bought  an  eighty-acre  farm,  to 
which  he  subsequently  added  thirty  acres,  making  a tract  of  one  hundred 
and  ten  acres.  Here  he  and  his  wife  reared  their  family,  and  lived  for 
many  years.  She  died  in  1875 ; he,  in  1893.  Ten  children  were  born  to 
them,  all  of  whom  grew  to  maturity;  Adam,  Peter  (deceased),  Elizabeth 
(deceased),  Phillip  (deceased),  Kate,  John,  Mary  (deceased),  Lucinda, 
Barbara  and  Minnie. 

John  Neff’s  boyhood  days  were  not  unlike  those  of  other  farmer 
boys  in  Ohio.  He  grew  up  in  his  native  county,  receiving  his  education 
there,  and  on  reaching  man’s  estate  engaged  in  the  lumber  business 
with  his  father  and  brother  at  Dunkirk.  There  for  about  twelve  years 
they  operated  a planing  mill,  under  the  name  of  Neff  & Company.  In 
1881,  John  Neff  sold  his  interest  in  the  business  to  J.  A.  Orth,  the 
present  owner  and  operator  of  the  mill;  and  on  severing  his  connection 
with  the  mill,  he  took  up  farming,  which  he  has  since  successfully 
followed.  He  now  owns  two  farms  in  Washington  township,  one  of 
which,  an  eighty  acre  tract,  he  purchased  in  1889 ; the  other,  seventy 
acres,  in  1900. 

Mr.  Neff  first  came  to  Hardin  county  in  1877.  Here,  in  1879,  he 
married  Miss  Lydia  Naef.  She  was  born  in  Washington  township  in 
1858,  daughter  of  George  and  Elizabeth  Naef,  who  came  here  from  San- 
dusky, Ohio,  in  1855.  On  his  arrival  in  Washington  township,  Mr.  Naef 
purchased  the  farm  upon  which  the  Neff  family  now  (1909)  reside, 
Here  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Naef  reared  their  family  and  passed  the  rest  of 
their  lives.  Her  death  occurred  in  1875,  and  his  in  1899.  Of  their  six 
children,  the  first  three,  George,  Mary  and  Emma,  are  deceased.  Those 
living  are  Lydia,  Amanda  and  Charles.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Neff  have  had 
ten  children,  of  whom  seven  are  living : Cora  M.,  Emma,  Henry  0., 
Frederick,  Olive  E.,  Ina  I.,  Edith  P.  Carl  E.  and  Alfred  L.,  the  two 
youngest  and  the  third  child  died  in  infancy.  Two  of  the  daughters, 
Cora  M.  and  Emma,  are  married,  the  former  being  Mrs.  S.  C.  Daniels,  the 
latter,  Mrs.  H.  McClane.  Mr.  Neff  and  his  family  attend  worship  at  the 
Presbyterian  church  at  Dola. 

J.  L.  Dickelman. — The  plant  owned  by  the  Dickelman  Manufac- 
turing Company  was  organized  in  1879,  by  O.  E.  Rhodes  and  Lafayette 
A.  Strauble,  February  14,  1888,  it  was  taken  over  by  a new  firm,  known 
as  Rhodes,  Dickelman  & Company,  with  J.  L.  Dickelman  as  manager. 
This  partnership  continued  up  to  1892,  at  which  time  F.  M.  Bowers  was 
taken  into  partnership ; in  January,  1896,  Mrs.  L.  A.  Strauble  sold  her 
interest  to  Miss  Lizzie  LI.  Dickelman.  In  January,  1898,  J.  L.  Dickel- 
man, F.  M.  Bowers  and  Lizzie  H.  Dickelman  purchased  the  interest  of 
0.  E.  Rhodes,  and  the  firm  was  known  as  Dickelman-Bowers  Manufac- 
turing Company,  which  continued  until  December,  1892,  at  which  time 
F.  M.  Bowers  sold  his  interests  to  his  two  partners.  The  firm  then  took 
the  present  name,  under  which  it  has  since  carried  on  business.  In 


600 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


1908  J.  L.  Dickelman  sold  his  interests  to  Lizzie  H.  Dickelman,  and 
formed  a stock  company  and  became  manager  of  the  concern. 

The  plant  manufactures  metal  roofing,  shingles,  gutters,  eave  spouts 
and  eave  troughs,  of  various  kinds.  Under  the  management  of  J.  L. 
Dickelman,  who  largely  built  up  the  business,  the  annual  volume  of 
business  increased  from  $15,000  to  $546,000  in  1907,  and  it  promises  to 
continue  to  increase  under  the  efficient  management  of  his  daughter,  now 
at  the  head  of  the  concern.  The  business  was  at  first  carried  on  in  a 
shed  some  twenty-two  by  fifty  feet,  and  its  present  factory  is  a fine  two- 
story  building  one  hundred  thirteen  feet  by  two  hundred  forty-three 
feet,  besides  two  ware-rooms,  one  eiglity-eight  by  eighty  and  the  other 
forty  by  eighty  feet,  with  two  stories.  The  offices  are  contained  in  a 
three-story  brick  building,  twenty-eight  feet  by  forty-nine  feet,  with 
steam  heat  and  other  modern  conveniences.  Dickelman  Manufacturing- 
Company  employ  in  their  plant  some  fifty  workmen,  and  keep  fourteen 
salesmen  busy  on  the  road;  they  employ  three  stenographers,  one  book- 
keeper, three  assistants  and  other  clerks. 

J.  L.  Dickelman,  to  whom  a large  share  of  the  success  of  this  enter- 
prise is  attributable,  was  born  in  Germany,  in  1839,  and  emigrated  to  this 
country  with  his  parents  in  1842.  The  family  came  first  to  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  but  later  removed  to  New  York  City,  thence  to  Albany,  and  finally 
to  Syracuse,  New  York,  where  the  father  died  in  1849.  The  mother 
died  in  1850,  at  Cleveland,  where  she  had  returned  after  her  husband’s 
death,  leaving  J.  L.  Dickelman  a lad  of  eleven  years,  dependant  upon  his 
own  resources.  He  soon  began  working  at  farming,  which  he  continued 
some  three  and  a half  years,  and  next  worked  a short  time  at  the  black- 
smith’s trade.  He  worked  ten  years  in  a grist  mill  and  then  for  three 
years  had  charge  of  a stone  quarry.  During  all  this  time  he  had  spent 
most  of  the  winters  at  wood  cutting,  clearing  land,  and  other  various 
jobs,  which  might  serve  him  to  get  ahead  in  the  world,  which  he  was 
bound,  with  his  enterprise  and  ambition,  to  do. 

April  15,  1861,  Mr.  Dickelman  enlisted  in  Company  D,  Fourth  Ohio 
Volunteer  Infantry,  was  discharged  the  same  year  and  reenlisted  for 
three  years  in  the  same  command.  He  was  promoted  from  time  to  time 
in  recognition  of  his  meritorious  service,  and  finally  became  second 
lieutenant.  He  was  honorably  discharged  in  1864,  and  returned  to 
Cleveland.  However,  he  still  heard  the  call  of  his  adopted  country, 
and  in  1864  he  joined  with  Captain  C.  B.  Gibson  in  recruiting  a com- 
pany; at  his  final  discharge  he  held  the  rank  of  first  lieutenant.  Mr. 
Dickelman  participated  in  many  battles,  among  them : Rich  Mountain, 

Grenocks  Ford,  Petersburg,  Romney,  Blues  Gap,  Bloomer  Gap,  Winches- 
ter, Strasburg,  Front  Royal,  Seven  Days’  Fight,  Bull  Run  Second, 
Fredricksburg,  Chaneellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Bristoe  Station,  Mine  Run, 
Morton’s  Ford,  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  North  Anna,  Cold  Harbor 
and  many  minor  engagements. 

In  1860  Mr.  Dickelman  had  located  in  Patterson,  Hardin  county, 
and  at  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned  to  Patterson  and  engaged  in  the 
sale  of  books,  chiefly  the  “History  of  the  Civil  War,”  in  which  he  took 
an  immense  interest  himself.  Subsequently  he  engaged  in  the  manu- 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


601 


facture  of  brick,  and  in  the  fall  of  1866  went  to  Sandusky.  Ohio,  where 
he  began  working  for  .James  Woolworth  in  the  manufacture  of  tool 
handles.  He  spent  twenty-one  years  in  this  business,  the  first  ten  years 
as  timberman,  and  the  other  eleven  years  had  charge  of  the  nine  factories 
of  the  firm,  located  in  Kentucky  and  Tennessee. 

In  1868  Mr.  Dickelman  married  Miss  Mary  H.  Worley,  of  Patterson, 
Ohio,  and  to  this  union  were  born  nine  children,  eight  of  whom  grew  to 
maturity,  namely : Lizzie  H.,  Mrs.  Maud  Swimley,  Mrs.  Nettie  Purdy, 
Mrs.  Zeola  Test,  J.  W.  (deceased),  Cora  O.,  Mrs.  Clara  Breese  and 
Lawrence. 

Besides  owning  town  property  Mr.  Dickelman  has  four  valuable 
farms,  two  in  Jackson  township,  consisting  of  one  hundred  seventy  and 
one  hundred  ninety- two  acres  respectively,  one  in  Wood  county,  of  one 
hundred  sixty  acres,  and  a forty-acre  farm  in  Missouri,  underlaid  with 
zinc.  His  farms  in  Ohio  are  well  equipped  with  buildings,  all  erected 
by  Mr.  Dickelman.  He  is  a public-spirited  citizen,  actively  interested 
in  public  affairs.  He  is  a Royal  Arch  Mason. 

Aubrey  Hampton  Wood. — Especially  worthy  of  note  among  the 
practical  and  prosperous  agriculturists  of  Hardin  county  is  Aubrey 
H.  Wood,  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  Dudley  township.  A son  of 
Dr.  James  Madison  Wood,  one  of  the  foremost  physicians  of  Dudley 
township,  he  was  born,  September  11,  1882,  in  Larue,  Marion  county, 
Ohio.  A sketch  of  Dr.  Wood  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work. 

Completing  the  course  of  study  in  the  public  schools  at  the  age 
of  sixteen  years,  Aubrey  H.  Wood  entered  the  Ohio  Northern  Univer- 
sity, which  he  attended  two  years.  Becoming  a farmer  from  choice, 
he  afterwards  remained  at  home  five  years,  but  since  that  time  has  had 
entire  charge  of  his  father’s  farm  of  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres, 
lying  near  Hepburn.  In  addition  to  raising  the  crops  common  to  this 
section  of  the  country,  Mr.  Wood  keeps  about  thirty  head  of  cattle, 
being  one  of  the  most  extensive  and  successful  dairymen  of  the  county, 
and  carries  on  a substantial  business  in  raising  and  shipping  hogs  and 
stock.  In  the  management  of  his  agricultural  interests  he  shows  marked 
ability  using  excellent  judgment  in  his  operations.  His  farm  being  well 
cultivated  and  productive. 

On  August  1,  1906,  Mr.  Wood  was  united  in  marriage  with  Bertha 
Drews,  who  was  born  in  Horst  Pomerania,  Germany,  a daughter  of 
Frederich  and  Christina  (Lindenberg)  Drews,  of  Larue,  Ohio.  Her 
father,  a retired  farmer,  served  in  the  Austrian  war  in  1860  and  Franco- 
Prussian  war  in  1870-71,  and  is  now  seventy-seven  years  of  age,  while 
her  mother  is  sixty-eight  years  old.  They  were  both  born  and  bred  in 
Germany,  coming  from  there  to  the  United  States  in  1887  when  Mrs. 
Wood  was  a child  of  three  years,  and  locating  in  Larue,  Marion  county, 
Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Drews  have  three  children,  namely : Bertha,  now 
Mrs.  Wood;  William,  of  Lima,  Ohio;  and  Gus,  an  electrician  in  Monaca, 
Pennsylvania.  The  pleasant  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wood  has  been 
brightened  by  the  birth  of  two  children,  namely:  Madison  Florian, 

born  in  1907 ; and  Esther  Annabelle,  born  in  1909.  A stanch  Republi- 


602 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


can  in  polities,  Mr.  Wood  takes  great  interest  in  public  matters,  and  in 
1907  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace.  Fraternally  he  belongs  to  the 
blue  lodge,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  at  Larue,  and  to  Hepburn  Tent  No.  23,  K. 
O.  T.  M.  Religiously  he  is  a valued  and  trustworthy  member  of  the 
United  Brethren  church. 

Enos  Wheeler. — A well  known  and  highly  respected  resident  of 
Hardin  county,  Enos  Wheeler,  a veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  has  for  many 
years  been  successfully  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  having  a well 
improved  farm  in  Lynn  township.  A son  of  Elihu  Wheeler,  he  was 
born,  August  28,  1842,  in  Noble  township,  Noble  county,  Ohio,  coming 
from  substantial  New  England  stock. 

Elihu  Wheeler,  whose  father’s  name  was,  also,  Enos  Wheeler,  was 
born  in  Maine,  his  birth  occurring  in  1811.  Migrating  when  a young 
man  to  Ohio,  he  purchased  land  in  Noble  county,  and  by  dint  of  per- 
severing toil  cleared  and  improved  a valuable  homestead,  on  which  he 
and  his  wife  spent  their  remaining  years.  He  married,  in  Noble 
county,  Ohio,  Harriet  Fogle,  who  was  of  Scotch  descent,  and  to  them 
six  children  were  born,  as  follows : Enos,  the  subject  of  this  brief 

biographical  sketch;  Solomon;  Maranda;  Lydia;  Josiah;  and  Sylvester. 

Gleaning  his  early  education  in  the  district  schools  of  Noble  township 
Enos  Wheeler  was  initiated  as  early  as  practicable  in  the  mysteries  of 
farming.  He  proved  a faithful  worker,  and  remained  on  the  parental 
homestead  until  after  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war.  A certificate 
of  record  compiled  by  M.  Wallingford,  historian  of  the  Soldiers  and 
Sailors  Historical  and  Benevolent  Society  certifies  that  Mr.  Wheeler 
enlisted,  August  9,  1862,  from  Noble  county,  Ohio,  to  serve  for  three 
years  or  during  the  war,  and  that  he  was  mustered  into  service,  September 
10,  1862,  at  Camp  Marietta,  Ohio,  as  private  in  Company  E,  Ninety- 
second  Ohio  Volunter  Infantry,  under  Captain  Erwin  G.  Dudley  and 
Colonel  Douglas  Putnam,  Jr. 

On  October  7,  1862,  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  Point  Pleasant, 
becoming  a part  of  Gilbert’s  Brigade,  Lightburn’s  Division,  but  was 
afterwards  assigned  to  General  George  Crook’s  Brigade,  Baird’s  Divi- 
sion, Fourteenth  Corps,  Army  of  the  Cumberland.  With  his  comrades 
Mr.  Wheeler  took  part  in  various  engagements,  including  those  at 
Pocataligo  Creek,  Virginia;  Hoover’s  Gap,  Tennessee;  Lane  Chapel, 
Georgia;  Tullahoma,  Tennessee;  Chickamauga;  Chattanooga;  Brown’s 
Ferry ; Lookout  Mountain ; Mission  Ridge ; and  in  a number  of  minor 
engagements  and  skirmishes.  At  the  battle  of  Mission  Ridge,  November 
25,  1863,  the  said  Enos  Wheeler,  so  reads  the  certificate,  was  wounded 
in  the  left  shoulder  by  gunshot,  and  taken  to  the  hospital  at  Nashville, 
where  he  remained  two  months.  Then,  receiving  a furlough,  he  re- 
mained at  home  four  months,  when  he  joined  his  regiment  at  Resaca, 
Georgia.  On  account  of  disability  from  wounds,  he  was  transferred  to 
the  Veteran  Reserve  Corps.  He  received  his  honorable  discharge  at 
Nashville,  Tennessee,  August  5,  1865,  by  reason  of  the  close  of  the  war 
In  compensation  for  his  brave  military  services  during  the  conflict,  Mr. 
Wheeler  now  receives  a pension  of  seventeen  dollars  a month,  a sum 
which  he  well  deserves. 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


603 


Soon  after  Ms  marriage  Mr.  Wheeler  began  farming  in  Noble  county 
remaining  there  until  1883,  when  he  disposed  of  his  interests  in  that  part 
of  the  state,  and  came  to  Hardin  county.  Buying  fifty  acres  of  heavily 
wooded  land  in  Lynn  township,  he  began  the  arduous  task  of  redeeming 
a farm  from  the  wilderness,  and  has  since  transformed  his  property  into 
one  of  the  best  farming  estates  in  the  township. 

On  March  8,  1866,  Mr.  Wheeler  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Violetta  Lamley,  who  was  born  in  Noble  county,  Ohio,  April  3,  1844,  a 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Dorcas  (Linton)  Lamley.  Two  children  have 
blessed  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wheeler,  namely:  Amos  D.,  born 
January  18,  1867,  married  Etta  Dillon ; and  Hattie  I.,  born  June  21, 
1871,  is  the  wife  of  Marcena  S.  Spencer,  of  Hepburn,  Ohio.  Politically 
a Democrat,  Mr.  Wheeler  served  for  six  years  as  trustee  of  Lynn  town- 
ship, and  socially  he  is  a member  of  Post  No.  97,  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  of  Kenton.  Mrs.  Wheeler  is  a consistent  Christian,  and  a 
valued  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Foraker. 

Leonard  S.  Cox. — The  bar  of  Hardin  county  numbers  among  its 
able  representatives  Leonard  S.  Cox,  a practicing  attorney  at  Mt.  Victory. 
He  was  born  on  a farm  in  York  township,  Union  county,  Ohio,  December 
16,  1876,  and  he  is  a son  of  George  W.  Cox  and  a grandson  of  Joshua 
Cox,  who  was  born  in  1801  in  Maryland,  and  who  died  in  Harrison 
county  in  1854.  He  married  Adatha  Bell,  born  in  1810,  and  she  came 
in  1865  with  her  family  to  Union  county  and  spent  the  remainder  of  her 
life  there.  After  leaving  the  school  room  George  W.  Cox,  their  son, 
worked  for  several  years  for  neighboring  farmers,  and  then  buying  the 
Cox  homestead  in  York  township,  Union  county,  he  has  since  lived  there 
and  farmed.  He  is  a Republican  in  his  political  affiliations,  but  has 
never  desired  the  honors  of  emoluments  of  public  office.  He  married  in 
September  of  1875  Rebecca  Sigler,  born  August  17,  1854,  a daughter  of 
William  and  Mary  (Cook)  Sigler,  both  of  whom  were  among  the  first 
settlers  of  York  township.  The  children  born  of  this  union  are: 
Leonard  S.  Cox,  the  Mt.  Victory  lawyer ; 'Iva  Dell,  the  wife  of  William 
Layman,  of  Toledo ; Edna  F.,  wife  of  Milton  Southard,  a farmer  in 
Union  county ; Belle,  a teacher  in  the  Union  county  schools ; Hazel,  wife 
of  Elmer  Miller,  also  a member  of  the  teacher’s  profession;  and  Gail,  at 
school. 

Leonard  S.  Cox  attended  public  schools  until  the  age  of  twenty-one, 
and  afterward  taught  school  for  three  years  in  Union  county,  and 
following  this  pursued  a course  in  the  Ohio  Business  Institute.  In 
1902  he  engaged  in  the  insurance  business,  from  1904  until  1906  was  an 
attendant  in  the  Toledo  State  Hospital,  and  coming  to  Mt.  Victory  in 
the  last  named  . year  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  on  the  19th  of  June, 
1906,  and  has  since  practiced  in  this  city.  He  is  an  active  Republican 
worker,  and  was  elected  a justice  of  the  peace  in  1907,  and  is  quite  promi- 
nently identified  with  the  fire  insurance  and  real  estate  business.  He 
has  fraternal  associations  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  fraternity,  Lodge 
No.  734. 


604 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Philip  J.  Corwin. — One  of  the  most  prominent  business  men  of 
Lynn  township  is  found  in  Philip  J.  Corwin,  who  became  identified  with 
Hardin  county  and  its  interests  in  3895.  In  that  year  he  leased  the 
farm  of  William  Lawrence,  which  is  an  extensive  tract  of  five  hundred 
and  fifty  acres  lying  in  Lynn  township.  He  has  become  extensively  and 
widely  known  as  a stock  buyer  and  feeder,  selling  in  carload  lots,  and 
during  the  past  twenty-six  years  he  has  also  been  engaged  extensively 
in  buying  and  selling  wool,  shipping  from  both  Kenton  and  Yelverton. 

Mr.  Corwin  was  born  in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  May  1,  1843,  a son  of 
George  and  Margaret  (Dickinson)  Corwin.  George  Corwin  was  born 
in  Champaign  county,  Ohio,  August  12,  1815,  and  he  was  a son  of 
Phineas  Corwin,  who  was  from  Pennsylvania.  Margaret  Dickinson 
was  born  on  September  17,  1817,  and  was  a daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Maria  Dickinson,  who  came  from  their  native  state  of  Virginia  to  Ohio 
in  the  year  of  1812.  Phineas  Corwin  became  the  father  of  seven  sons 
and  a daughter:  John,  Oliver,  Dan,  Jacob,  Thomas,  George,  Phineas 

and  Mary  A.  George  Corwin  was  reared  in  Champaign  county,  and 
after  his  marriage  he  came  to  Logan  county  and  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  life  there,  a life-long  farmer  and  stock  raiser.  Tie  became  the 
father  of  four  sons  and  five  daughters,  namely:  Philip  J.,  Ann  M., 

Milton,  Leidigh  Jane,  Emily,  Martha,  Zachius,  Austin  A.  and  Etta. 
Philip  J.  Corwin,  the  first  horn  of  these  nine  children,  was  reared  as  a 
farmer  boy  in  Logan  county,  attending  its  district  schools  until  the  age 
of  eighteen,  and  since  laying  aside  his  text  books  he  has  been  identified 
with  the  farm.  He  remained  at  home  with  his  parents  until  his  mar- 
riage at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years  to  Sarah  A.  Wren,  and  the  only 
child  of  that  union,  Andrew  F.,  died  in  Michigan.  In  1874  he  was 
married  to  Jane  A.  Kautzman,  who  was  born  in  Logan  county,  Ohio, 
May  28,  1849,  and  the  seven  children  of  this  union  are : George  B., 
born  November  30,  1875 ; Thomas  P.,  born  April  13,  1878 ; Martin  E., 
born  January  12,  1880;  Clifton  W.,  born  February  25,  1883;  Irene  E., 
born  March  12,  1885 ; Everett  L.,  born  November  23,  1888 ; Goldie  D., 
born  May  23,  1893.  The  son  Clifton  is  a graduate  of  the  Ada  and  Lima 
Business  School.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Corwin  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  at  Silver  Creek,  and  Mr.  Corwin  also  has  membership 
relations  with  the  Grange  and  with  the  fraternal  order  of  Odd  Fellows. 

Mrs.  Mattie  H.  Ludwig  is  numbered  among  the  representative  citi- 
zens of  Hardin  county,  honored  for  her  true  worth  of  character,  and 
prominent  as  a member  of  some  of  the  oldest  and  best  known  families  of 
the  county.  She  resides  on  one  of  the  most  valuable  farms  in  Washing- 
ton township,  a highly  improved  tract  of  eighty  acres  and  containing  one 
of  the  finest  homes  in  the  township,  and  she  also  owns  a farm  of  one 
hundred  and  fifty  acres  in  Cessna  township  and  valuable  residence  prop- 
erty in  Ada.  She  was  born  in  Seneca  county,  Ohio,  March  22,  1851,  to 
the  marriage  union  of  J.  H.  and  Mary  Hamilton,  who  lived  and  died 
in  that  county.  They  were  the  parents  of  three  children,  but  only  two 
daughters  are  now  living,  the  younger  being  Mary  A.  Schaaf.  John  H. 
died  at  the  age  of  fourteen  months.  The  father  died  on  the  3d  of 


ELMER  MATTHEWS 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


605 


December,  1893,  and  his  wife  Mary  a number  of  years  previously,  on  the 
30th  of  May,  1882. 

Their  daughter  Mattie  was  reared  and  educated  at  Westerville,  and 
on  the  7th  of  November,  1878,  she  was  united  in  marriage  to  Elmer 
Matthews,  with  whom  she  lived  peacefully  and  happily  until  his  death 
_on  the  18th  of  June,  1903.  He  was  born  in  Cessna  township  of  Hardin 
county  October  17,  1843,  being  also  reared  there  and  being  educated  at 
Delaware,  Ohio,  and  agriculture  was  his  lifelong  vocation.  He  was  an 
industrious  farmer,  a loyal  citizen  and  a neighbor  always  to  be  depended 
upon  in  time  of  need,  while  as  a husband  he  was  true  and  faithful,  and 
above  all  he  was  a true  Christian  gentleman,  a faithful  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Ife  w but  twelve  years  of  age  when  he 
united  with  that  church,  and  he  continued  one  of  its  active  workers  dur- 
ing the  remainder  of  his  life.  Mr.  Matthews  was  a son  of  Levi  and 
Elizabeth  (Wetzel)  Matthews,  and  he  was  the  younger  of  the  two  of 
their  three  children  who  reached  mature  years,  the  elder  son  being 
Mortimer  Matthews,  a resident  of  Kansas  and  he  has  been  county  sur- 
veyor of  Nemaha  county  for  thirty  years.  Levi  Matthews,  the  father,  was 
one  of  the  first  to  enter  government  land  in  Hardin  county,  selecting 
his  farm  in  Cessna  township,  and  that  land  is  now  the  property  of  Mr*. 
Ludwig.  He  died  on  the  8th  of  March,  1885,  surviving  his  wife,  who 
had  died  on  the  3d  of  March,  1876. 

Mrs.  Matthews  married  in  1907  G.  C.  Ludwig.  The  home  in  which 
they  reside  is  a model  farm  residence,  complete  in  all  its  appointments 
and  beautifully  surrounded.  This  home  was  built  by  Mr.  Matthews  in 
1884. 

Ferdinand  Copp,  a successful  farmer  of  Hale  township,  Hardin 
county,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  March  19,  1840,  and  is 
a son  of  Christian  and  Julia  (Deisher)  Copp.  Christian  Copp  was 
born  in  Botetourt  county,  Virginia,  in  March,  1809,  and  died  in  Febru- 
ary, 1891 ; his  wife  was  born  in  1812,  also  in  Virginia,  and  died  in 
February,  1894.  They  removed  to  Logan  county,  Ohio,  where  they 
spent  three  years,  and  then  bought  a farm  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres 
in  Hale  township,  Hardin  county,  in  1841,  where  they  spent  the  remain- 
der of  their  lives.  Mr.  Copp  was  a Democrat  and  served  some  time  as 
justice  of  the  peace ; he  also  held  other  local  offices.  Besides  Ferdinand 
his  children  were:  Jenny,  widow  of  Iv.  Gaines,  of  Springfield;  Mary, 
widow  of  N.  Swallow,  of  Kenton  ; Harriet,  wife  of  John  P.  Swallow,  of 
Kenton;  and  Samantha,  widow  of  M.  Seedle,  of  Kenton.  Mr.  Copp 
and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Christian  church. 

Ferdinand  Copp  attended  the  public  school,  and  later  took  up  farm- 
ing with  his  father.  From  the  time  his  father  became  too  old  for  active 
work  he  took  charge  of  the  farm,  and  has  lived  here  ever  since.  He 
makes  a specialty  of  raising  cattle  and  sheep,  in  which  line  he  is  very 
successful. 

Mr.  Copp  enlisted,  May  2,  1864,  in  Company  IT,  One  Hundred 
Thirty-fifth  Volunteers,  and  skirmished  under  the  command  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac  one  hundred  days.  He  was  mustered  out  in  1865.  In 

Vol.  II— 11 


606 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


1862  he  was  a member  of  the  celebrated  “Squirrel  Hunters,’’  of  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio.  Mr.  Copp  is  a member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Repub- 
lic, of  Ridgeway,  Ohio.  Politically  he  is  a Democrat,  and  has  held  the 
office  of  trustee  and  member  of  the  school  board  for  many  years.  He  is 
an  enterprising,  ambitious  farmer,  and  highly  respected  in  the  com- 
munity. 

May  25,  1876,  Mr.  Copp  married  Eunice,  daughter  of  Abraham  and 
Ada  (Drew)  Haynes;  she  was  born  December  28,  1851,  in  Hardin 
county,  and  the  family  came  here  from  Vermont,  Mr.  Copp  and  his 
wife  have  three  children,  Avis,  Ethel  and  Christian  H.  Avis  married 
Morton  Ansley,  a farmer  of  Hale  township,  and  they  have  five  children, 
Malcolm,  Merrill,  Rachel.  Geneva,  and  Lauren.  Ethel,  born  in  1881, 
married  II.  C.  McVay,  a farmer  of  Hale  township,  and  they  have  one 
daughter.  Pansy.  Christian  Haynes  married  Miss  Nora  Ansley,  Decem- 
ber "18,  1909. 

R.  Dolpii  Brown. — Among  the  most  important  residents  of  any 
community  are  the  farmers ; upon  the  success  of  agricultural  operations 
depends  the  prosperity  of  the  country.  Among  the  successful  farmers 
of  Dudley  township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  is  R.  Dolph  Brown,  who  was 
born  November  17,  1859,  in  Union  county,  Ohio,  a son  of  Jacob  Brown. 
Jacob  Brown  died  in  1874,  at  the  age  of  sixty -seven  years.  He  came 
from  Virginia  to  Union  county,  Ohio,  with  his  father,  as  a small  boy, 
and  later  they  settled  in  Hardin  county,  in  Dudley  township,  along  the 
Scioto  river.  He  married  Naomi  Arhood. 

After  reaching  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  R.  Dolph  Brown  began 
working  on  the  farm  for  his  parents ; at  the  death  of  his  father,  he  and 
his  brother  took  charge  of  the  farm  until  Dolph  was  twenty-seven  years 
of  age,  when  he  rented  a farm  twelve  years  and  then  bought  his  present 
place,  where  he  carried  on  general  farming  and  stock  raising.  He  is  a 
prominent  citizen  of  the  township,  and  actively  interested  in  public 
affairs.  He  is  well  known  and  highly  respected,  and  all  who  have  had 
dealings  with  Mr.  Brown  are  assured  of  his  good  business  principles  and 
high  character.  Politically  he  is  a Democrat,  although  he  has  never 
cared  for  the  emoluments  of  public  office.  He  is  a member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church,  and  served  five  years  as  trustee.  He  belongs  to  the 
Maccabees,  of  Hepburn,  Ohio. 

In  1887  Mr.  Brown  married,  at  Hepburn  parsonage,  Maggie  Kelly, 
born  March  27,  1863,  daughter  of  Edward  and  Mary  Ann  (Lewis) 
Kelly.  They  were  the  first,  couple  married  at  this  parsonage.  Edward 
Kelly  was  born  December  30,  1821,  and  died  in  1894.  He  came  as  a boy 
with  his  father,  Benjamin  Kelly,  from  Eastern  Pennsylvania  to  Ohio; 
the  father  was  a cooper  by  trade  and  settled  in  Marion  county,  later  in 
Hardin  county.  Edward  Kelly  remained  with  his  parents  until  his 
marriage ; he  then  rented  a farm  in  Marion  county,  but  on  account  of  his 
wife’s  poor  health  moved,  in  a covered  wagon,  to  Greene  county,  Indiana, 
where  he  was  employed  for  about  a year  teaming  and  freighting  to 
different  towns,  and  then  settled  in  Hardin  county  ad  bought  what  is 
now  called  the  Old  Kelly  Home,  which  he  cleared,  and  where  the  re- 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


607 


mainder  of  his  life  was  spent.  His  widow  died  in  1899.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  United  Brethren  church,  and  was  a Republican,  holding 
many  township  offices.  Mr.  Kelly  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  county, 
and  was  widely  known  and  highly  esteemed.  Besides  Mrs.  Brown  he 
and  his  wife  had  children  as  follows : Willis,  a farmer  of  Dudley  town- 
ship ; Ellen,  wife  of  Caleb  Harmon,  of  Mt.  Victory,  Ohio ; Emma,  wife 
of  Cyrus  Dille,  a farmer  of  Dudley  township ; Lewis,  also  a farmer  of 
Dudley  township ; Edward  II.,  a farmer  of  Oklahoma ; and  Horace,  who 
died  in  the  Civil  war,  of  illness,  at  Chattanooga,  being  the  oldest  of  the 
family. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown  were  born  children  as  follows : Elsie,  born 
May  16,  1888;  Clella,  deceased;  Mary,  deceased;  Amy,  born  August  29, 
1895;  Dewey,  April,  1899;  Harley,  February  26,  1901;  Mabel,  July  30, 
1903;  Orvv,  June  10,  1905;  David  Kelly,  February  11,  1907.  Mrs. 
Brown  is  an  earnest  member  of  the  United  Brethren  church  and  of  the 
Ladies  Aid  Society. 

C.  W.  Wood,  a successful  stock  farmer  living  near  Dunkirk,  and 
having  registered  horses,  was  born  in  Union  county,  Ohio,  October  14, 
1857,  and  is  a son  of  Joseph  E.  and  Ruth  A.  Wood,  both  natives  of  that 
county.  The  parents  moved  to  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  in  1872 ; Joseph 
Wood  died  in  1903  and  his  widow  survives  him  (1909).  They  were 
parents  of  thirteen  children,  seven  of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  namely: 
C.  W.,  Laura  (deceased).  J.  R.  (deceased).  William.  John  I.  (deceased), 
Howard  and  Hattie.  Those  who  survive  live  in  Hardin  county. 

C.  W.  AA7ood  was  reared  and  educated  in  Union  and  Hardin  counties ; 
he  resided  twelve  years  in  Logan  county.  Until  1903  Mr.  Wood  carried 
on  farming  exclusively,  .but  since  that  time  has  devoted  considerable 
time  to  buying  and  selling  stock.  On  his  ten  acre  farm,  which  is  located 
just  south  of  town,  on  the  turnpike  road,  he  keeps  a stud  of  four  blooded 
horses,  consisting  of  two  Percherons,  one  German  Coach  Imported  and 
one  Wilkes  road  horse.  He  is  an  industrious  and  enterprising  citizen, 
and  stands  well  in  the  estimation  of  his  fellows. 

In  1882  Mr.  AYood  married  Mary  E.  Smith ; they  have  no  children. 
He  is  a member  of  the  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  also  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 

Isaac  Phillips. — One  of  the  most  prominent  and  substantial  citizens 
of  Taylor  Creek  township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  is  Isaac  Phillips,  who 
is  a native  of  Canfield,  Ohio,  born  September  14,  1825.  He  is  a son  of 
Samuel  and  Mary  (Clive)  Phillips  and  grandson  of  Joseph  Phillips. 
Samuel  Phillips  was  born  in  AVestmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania,  and 
later  moved  to  AVood  county,  Ohio,  where  he  died,  in  1880,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-seven  years. 

Having  received  a good  education  Isaac  Phillips  remained  at  home 
with  his  parents  until  he  reached  his  majority.  He  then  removed  to 
Coshocton  county  and  later  to  Pike  county,  where  he  remained  until 
locating  in  Hardin  county,  in  April,  1864.  He  cleared  land  adjoining 
his  present  farm  and  the  following  year  brought  his  family  to  his  farm. 


608 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Some  years  later  he  bought  his  present  home  of  forty-six  acres,  on  which 
he  erected  a log  cabin.  He  cleared  this  land  and  made  all  possible 
improvements,  becoming  very  successful.  In  1901  he  retired  from 
active  life.  He  was  the  youngest  of  a family  of  seven  children. 

In  1847  Mr.  Phillips  married  Esther  Martha  McKee,  who  was  born 
May  14,  1831,  the  second  of  five  children,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Eliza 
(Leach)  McKee,  of  Coshocton  county,  and  granddaughter  of  William 
and  Martha  (Mordiek)  McKee,  of  Pennsylvania.  Both  Mr.  Phillips 
and  his  wife  are  the  sole  survivors  of  their  respective  families.  They 
are  the  oldest  couple  living  in  Taylor  Creek  township,  Mr.  Phillips  being 
eighty-four  and  his  wife  seventy-nine,  and  both  have  given  up  work. 
They  are  well  known  in  the  community  and  stand  high  in  the  respect 
and  esteem  of  all  who  know  them.  They  remain  on  the  farm  and  their 
youngest  daughter  keeps  house  and  cares  for  them.  Both  belong  to  the 
United  Presbyterian  church.  He  is  a Democrat  in  political  affiliations 
and  cast  his  first  vote  for  President  Buchanan.  During  the  last  year 
Mr.  Phillips  has  had  the  great  misfortune  to  lose  his  sight. 

The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Phillips  are : Eliza  Ellen,  born 
August  20,  1848,  wife  of  Dan  Beltz,  died  leaving  six  children;  Mary 
Elizabeth,  born  November  17,  1849,  married  William  Stevenson,  of 
Taylor  Creek  township,  and  they  have  four  children;  Joseph  McKee, 
born  February  25,  1852,  married  Laura  Shoekey,  lives  near  Walnut 
Grove,  and  has  six  children ; Hulda,  born  February  5,  1854,  married 
Lem  Liles,  and  they  have  three  children ; Uriah  Burton,  deceased,  mar- 
ried Cynthia  Burrell  and  they  had  two  children ; Louise,  married  John 
Pyers,  of  Taylor  Creek  township,  and  they  have  no  children ; Melissa 
Jane,  born  April  14,  1860,  married  E.  McLain,  and  died  leaving  one 
child;  Isaac  V.,  born  April  15,  1862,  married  Eliza  Moon,  and  both  died, 
leaving  three  children ; Martha  Belle,  born  April  29,  1864,  married  Elmer 
Griffis,  of  DeGraf,  Ohio,  and  they  have  three  children ; Jacqueline,  born 
May  16,  1867,  married  J.  Chamberlain,  of  Zanesfield,  Ohio,  and  they 
have  two  children;  William  Hunter,  born  February  6,  1871,  lives  in 
Taylor  Creek  township,  married  Etta  Roberts,  and  they  have  four 
children;  and  May,  born  April  14,  1876,  remains  at  home,  as  before 
mentioned.  Mrs.  Phillips  and  daughter  May  adopted  a grandchild 
Yinal,  born  August  12,  1897,  now  deceased. 

W.  K.  Zehner  is  one  of  the  honored  pioneers  of  Hardin  county, 
where  he  has  resided  since  1846.  He  traces  his  ancestry  to  the  father- 
land  of  Germany,  the  birthplace  of  his  great-grandfather,  but  coming 
to  the  United  States  he  became  a loyal  citizen  of  his  adopted  country  and 
took  an  active  part  in  the  war  of  1812.  Among  his  children  was  a son 
Peter,  who  was  born  after  his  father’s  emigration  to  America,  and  his 
children  included  Reuben  Zehner,  born  in  Pennsylvania.  Reuben 
Zehner  purchased  in  an  early  day  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land 
in  Washington  township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  receiving  a tax  title  to 
the  same,  as  did  all  pioneers,  and  the  crudest  of  log  cabins,  with  blankets 
for  doors  and  windows,  sheltered  him  and  his  family  until  more  conven- 
ient quarters  could  be  prepared.  The  simple  residence  which  he  soon 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


609 


completed  served  as  their  home  for  twenty-five  years,  and  with  the  help 
of  his  sons  he  had  succeeded  in  clearing  about  two-thirds  of  his  farm 
when  death  claimed  him  on  the  26tli  of  January,  1881.  He  was  born 
on  the  15th  of  September,  1806,  and  his  wife,  nee  Sophia  Klingerman, 
born  ill  Pennsylvania  August  27,  1812,  died  June  23,  1880.  Seven  chil- 
dren were  born  to  them,  namely:  Mary  A.,  Caroline,  Cordilla  and 

Sophia,  all  deceased,  AVilliam  K.,  Michael,  also  deceased,  and  Jesse. 
Reuben  Zehner  was  by  trade  a shoemaker  and  was  also  a singing  teacher, 
and  a man  of  delicate  constitution,  but  of  the  most  sterling  characteris- 
tics and  these  qualities  have  been  instilled  into  his  children. 

William  K.  Zehner  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1840,  and  coming 
with  his  parents  to  Hardin  county  when  six  years  of  age  he  was  educated 
in  its  public  schools  and  in  his  early  life  began  farming  its  land.  On 
reaching  his  twenty-fifth  year  he  bought  one  hundred  acres  of  its  virgin 
soil,  and  as  did  his  father,  built  him  a log  cabin  and  began  to  prepare  his 
farm  for  cultivation.  His  home  is  now  a modern  one,  showing  thrift 
and  artistic  taste,  and  his  land  is  valuably  improved.  He  has  served 
his  township  in  several  of  its  offices,  including  those  of  supervisor,  trustee 
and  school  director,  and  has  in  many  ways  been  prominently  identified 
with  the  life  of  his  community. 

Mr.  Zehner  has  been  twice  married,  wedding  first,  on  December  27, 
1865,  Miss  Lucretia  Dickson,  and  of  the  nine  children  which  were  born 
to  them  the  following  reached  mature  years:  Nora  E.,  the  deceased  wife 
of  A.  J.  Garmon ; Amanda  J. ; Florence,  the  present  wife  of  Mr.  Garmon ; 
James  R.,  who  died  September  29,  1909;  Lydia  S. ; Carrie  E.,  a music 
teacher,  wife  of  Charles  Nosker ; and  Sarah  E.,  wife  of  M.  Nowlan.  Mrs. 
Zehner  died  on  March  6,  1886,  at  the  age  of  thirty-nine  years,  and  on 
the  29th  of  December,  1889,  Mr.  Zehner  married  for  his  second  wife 
Christine  Ann  Garlinger,  and  a son,  William  J.,  has  been  born  to  them. 
Mrs.  Zehner  was  born  in  Hancock  county,  Ohio,  April  4,  1854,  a daugh- 
ter of  George  and  Elizabeth  Garlinger,  who  were  among  the  pioneers  of 
Hancock  county.  Mr.  Garlinger  died  with  cholera.  Mr.  Zehner  is  a 
worthy  member  of  the  Methodist  Protestant  church,  in  which  he  has 
served  in  nearly  all  of  the  offices,  and  he  is  also  a member  of  the  order  of 
Patrons  of  Husbandry. 

Joshua  D.  Virden,  a prosperous  farmer  of  Dudley  township,  Har- 
din county,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Marion  county,  May  21,  1852,  and  is  a 
son  of  Theodore  W.  and  Sarah  (Davis)  Virden.  Theodore  Virden  was 
born  in  Delaware  about  1816  and  died  December  5,  1899.  He  came  with 
his  father,  Alson  Virden,  to  Marion  county,  Ohio,  when  eighteen  years 
of  age.  Alson  Virden,  a carpenter  by  trade,  married  Mary  Wilson, 
and  after  his  wife ’s  death  he  removed  with  his  family  to  Marion  county, 
Theodore  being  the  oldest  in  the  family.  Alson  Virden  having  poor 
health  gave  up  working  at  his  trade  and  removed  to  Hardin  county, 
and  there  entering  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land,  where  he  died 
at  the  age  of  eighty  years.  He  had  cleared  his  land  and  erected  a 
house. 

Theodore  Virden  was  the  oldest  of  six  children,  and  followed  farm- 


610 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


ing  on  the  old  homestead  until  he  was  twenty-three  years  of  age.  He 
bought  a farm  of  eighty  acres  in  Marion  county,  later  adding  land 
until  he  owned  four  hundred  acres.  He  carried  on  general  farming 
making  a specialty  of  stock-raising,  and  remained  on  his  land  until  his 
death.  He  was  married  in  October,  1830,  to  Sarah,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam II.  Davis,  and  she  died  September  17,  1877,  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
seven  years.  William  II.  Davis  was  born  in  Maryland  in  1781,  and 
came  to  Ohio  in  1803,  settling  first  in  Chillicothe.  He  was  a cabinet- 
maker by  trade,  and  served  in  the  war  of  1812.  His  wife  Marian 
Johnson,  was  born  in  1797  and  died  in  1865,  having  survived  her  hus- 
band who  died  in  1847.  Mr.  Davis’  father,  Joshua  Davis,  was  killed 
in  the  Revolutionary  war.  When  Mr.  Virden  was  married  he  had  but 
fifty  cents  in  money  and  began  housekeeping  in  an  old  log  cabin.  He 
made  his  money  in  his  industry  and  thrift,  and  became  very  successful, 
so  that  at  the  time  of  his  death  he  owned  a fine  property.  He  and  his 
wife  had  children  as  follows:  William  A.,  a farmer  of  Marion  county; 
Mary  E.,  wife  of  Ezra  Umpher,  of  Marion ; Charles  C.,  a farmer  of 
Marion  county;  Samuel  T.,  of  California,  where  he  has  an  orange  grove; 
Thomas  D.,  a retired  farmer  of  Larue,  Ohio;  Joshua  D.,  Robert  H.,  of 
Missouri ; and  Dr.  Milton  II.,  of  Columbus,  Ohio.  Mr.  Virden  held 
several  local  offices,  and  was  a prominent  man  in  public  affairs. 

Joshua  D.  Virden  attended  school  three  months  a year  and  helped 
carry  on  his  father’s  farm.  After  he  reached  his  majority  he  began 
farming  on  his  own  account  and  when  twenty-five  years  of  age  bought 
forty  acres,  on  which  he  lived  until  1887.  He  then  removed  to  Hardin 
county  and  purchased  his  present  one  hundred-acre  farm.  This  farm 
was  only  partly  cleared,  so  that  he  had  to  make  all  improvements,,  and 
now  has  one  of  the  most  modern  residence  in  the  northern  part  of  Dud- 
ley township,  where  he  carries  on  general  farming,  and  makes  a specialty 
of  stock-raising.  He  is  much  interested  in  good  horses,  of  which  he 
has  raised  a great  many.  He  has  added  forty  acres  to  his  farm  and 
has  erected  substantial  and  comfortable  buildings.  He  has  now  prac- 
tically retired  from  the  active  work  of  his  farm  but  takes  charge  of  it 
still. 

Mr.  Virden  is  a member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  has  always 
taken  an  active  part  in  public  affairs.  He  served  six  years  as  trustee 
of  Dudley  township  and  is  an  ardent  Democrat.  He  is  well  known 
in  the  community,  where  his  good  qualities  and  high  character  are 
appreciated.  He  is  well  liked  and  has  a host  of  friends. 

November  18,  1873,  Mr.  Virden  married  Prances  Margaret  Ansel- 
man,  who  was  born  in  Marion  county,  Ohio,  May  10,  1853,  daughter  of 
Charles  Anselman,  a native  of  Germany,  who  came  to  America  with  his 
parents  when  three  years  old.  The  parents,  John  Philip  and  Prances 
Anselman  lived  in  Marion  county  many  years,  and  then  removed  to 
Hardin  county  and  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives  with  their  child- 
ren, the  father  passing  away  at  the  age  of  one  hundred  years.  John 
Philip  Anselman  was  an  officer  in  the  German  army  and  served  seven 
years  in  the  war.  Charles  Anselman  served  one  hundred  days  in  the 
Civil  war.  He  was  an  active  business  man  and  sold  machinery,  mowers, 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


611 


reapers  etc.,  except  in  harvest  time  when  he  returned  home  to  care  for 
his  crops.  He  married  Anna  Felton,  also  a native  of  Germany,  who 
located  in  Marion  county,  Ohio,  as  a child,  with  her  parents.  The  fam- 
ily located  in  Hardin  county  in  1869.  She  was  born  March  8,  1826  and 
died  September,  1884,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years.  Mr.  Ansel- 
man  died  June  28,  1904.  Mrs.  Virden  was  one  of  eight  children, 
the  others  being:  Katie  Bishop,  Charles,  John  Joseph,  Sarah  Wood, 

Elizabeth  S.,  Clara  Banning.  Her  mother  was  for  fifty  years  a 
member  of  the  Christian  church.  Mrs.  Virden  is  a member  of  the 
Methodist  church  and  also  belongs  to  the  Pythian  Sisters,  being  inner 
guard  of  the  lodge  of  Hepburn.  Mr.  Virden  and  his  wife  have 
one  son,  Lloyd  Milton,  who  was  born  May  13,  1883,  and  he  is  living 
at  home.  He  is  a graduate  of  Kenton  high  school  and  Ada  Uni- 
versity and  helps  with  the  work  of  the  farm.  Being  a lover  of  stock- 
raising  and  especially  of  good  horses  the  farm  had  the  tendency  to 
make  a farmer  of  him.  Lloyd  has  the  pleasure  of  owning  two  of  the 
best  bred  road  mares  in  the  country,  each  standard  bred  and  registered 
and  have  lots  of  speed.  These  mares  Goldie  Nu  and  Lady  Mansfield 
are  used  as  brood  mares,  and  have  proved  themselves  producers.  He 
also  breeds  English  Shire  horses  in  which  he  has  been  quite  successful 
and  has  a team  at  present  for  which  he  has  refused  six  hundred  dollars. 

In  1907  and  1908  wishing  to  see  the  talked  of  California,  Lloyd 
made  a three  months  tour  of  the  South  and  West,  being  in  seventeen 
states  and  once  out  of  the  Unietd  States  in  that  time. 

J.  B.  Fletcher,  merchant  tailor,  Kenton,  Ohio,  has  been  identified 
with  the  business  activity  of  this  place  since  he  was  a youth  in  his  teens ; 
has  figured  prominently  in  the  affairs  of  the  town,  and  has  been  the 
recipient  of  honors  from  his  fellow  citizens. 

Mr.  Fletcher  is  a native  of  England.  He  was  born  in  Lincolnshire, 
November  23,  1847,  son  of  William  and  Marie  (Eldridge)  Fletcher, 
English  people,  and  with  them  came  to  America  in  1854.  Arrived  in 
this  country,  the  Fletcher  family  settled  in  Washington  township,  Har- 
din county,  Ohio,  where  for  a time  the  father  was  employed  as  a con- 
tractor on  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad.  Later  he  ran  a hotel  and  store 
at  what  was  then  North  Washington,  now  Dola,  and  still  later  he 
settled  on  a farm,  where  his  last  years  were  spent.  He  died  at  the  age 
of  sixty-seven  years  and  his  wife,  at  thirty-three.  While  a resident  of 
Washington  township,  William  Fletcher  at  different  times  filled  local 
offices.  In  his  family  were  nine  children,  three  daughters  and  six  sons, 
J.  B.  being  the  eldest. 

J.  B.  Fletcher  started  out  to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world  when 
he  was  fifteen,  and  it  was  then  that  he  came  to  Kenton.  Here  his  first 
work  was  as  a clerk  in  the  grocery  of  Crowley  & Dickson,  with  whom 
he  remained  two  years.  Afterward  he  was  for  several  years  employed 
as  a clerk  in  other  stores  (A.  B.  Ingersoll,  B.  F.  & C.  Schwartz,  J.  M. 
Brimon),  where  he  gained  a varied  business  experience  and  a knowledge 
of  human  nature,  which  fitted  him  to  embark  in  an  enterprise  of  his  own. 
In  partnership  with  Adolph  Fullerton,  under  the  firm  name  of  Fuller- 


612 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


ton  & Fletcher,  he  made  his  first  business  venture  as  a merchant  tailor 
and  dealer  in  ready-made  clothes.  Two  years  later  the  firm  became 
Fletcher  & Carry.  This  partnership  continued  until  1876,  when  they 
sold  the  business.  That  same  year  Mr.  Fletcher  engaged  in  business 
under  his  own  name,  which  he  has  since  continued. 

During  his  long  residence  here,  Mr.  Fletcher  has  been  active  in 
Democratic  politics  and  twice,  in  1900  and  1902,  was  the  choice  for  mayor 
in  which  office  he  served  acceptably  two'  terms.  In  1907,  he  was  elected 
a member  of  the  Board  of  Public  Service,  of  which  he  was  elected  presi- 
dent. On  December  16,  1909,  he  was  appointed  Director  of  Public 
Service  for  a term  of  two  years,  beginning  January  1,  1910. 

Mr.  Fletcher  became  a charter  member  of  Robert  Bruce  Lodge  No. 
101,  Knights  of  Pythias,  September  4,  1876,  and  a charter  member  of 
Kenton  Division,  Uniform  Rank  Knights  of  Pythias  in  December,  1883. 
April  29,  1896  he  was  appointed  assistant  adjutant  general  of  the  Ohio 
Brigade  Uniformed  Rank  K.  of  P.  by  General  James  C.  Howe  and  served 
until  the  death  of  General  Howe  which  occurred  November  1,  1897.  For 
eighteen  years  he  has  been  a member  of  the  B.  P.  O.  E.,  No.  157,  and  in 
both  this  order  and  in  the  K.  of  P.  he  has  filled  all  the  chairs. 

June  13,  1872,  Mr.  Fletcher  married  Miss  Mary  A.  IJoon,  a 
native  of  Ohio  and  a daughter  of  A.  S.  and  Jeannette  Hoon,  and  they 
have  two  daughters:  Ellen,  wife  of  R.  C.  Caples,  traffic  manager  for 
the  New  York  Central  R.  R.,  New  York  City;  and  Kate,  wife  of  Dr.  H. 
D.  Belt,  a practicing  physician  of  Kenton. 

Curtis  Avra  Robinson. — The  representative  of  a family  that  has 
been  for  many  years  intimately  identified  with  the  annals  of  Hardin  coun- 
ty, Curtis  Avra  Robinson,  of  Cessna  township,  is  also  widely  known  as 
one  of  the  upbuilders  of  the  town  of  Alger,  he  and  his  father,  the  late 
James  II.  Robinson,  having  erected  the  first  building  in  Alger,  that  is 
now  occupied  by  the  Phillips  Hotel.  They  also  established  the  first  mer- 
cantile house  in  that  place,  conducting  a general  store  there  for  eight 
years,  while  for  seventeen  years  Curtis  Avra  Robinson  owned  and  con- 
ducted a livery  business,  it  being  the  first  enterprise  of  the  kind  in  Alger. 
He  was  born  April  29,  1868,  at  Marseilles,  Wyandot  county,  Ohio,  of 
pioneer  ancestry,  his  grandparents,  Peter  A.  and  Anna  E.  Robinson, 
having  been  among  the  early  settlers  of  Hardin  county,  Ohio. 

Born  near  the  city  of  Auburn,  New  York,  May  7,  1839,  James  H. 
Robinson  was  but  three  years  of  age,  when,  in  1842,  he  was  brought  by 
his  parents  to  Goshen  township,  Hardin  county,  where  he  grew  to  man’s 
estate.  During  the  Civil  war,  he  responded  cheerfully  to  his  country’s 
call,  enlisting  as  a private  in  Company  A,  Eighty-second  Ohio  Volunteer 
Infantry,  in  which  he  served  until  February  9,  1862,  when  he  was  hon- 
orably discharged  on  account  of  physical  disability.  On  October  13, 
1864,  having  regained  his  former  vigor,  he  again  enlisted  in  his  old  com- 
pany, with  which  he  remained  until  the  close  of  the  war,  receiving  his 
discharge  on  July  24,  1865.  He  lived  for  a few  years  after  his  marriage 
in  Wyandot  county,  but  returned  to  Hardin  county,  and  in  the  spring 
of  1883  located  in  Alger  as  one  of  its  original  settlers,  and  built  the 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


613 


property  now  occupied  by  George  Phillips.  For  a number  of  years  he 
was  successfully  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits,  conducting  a grocery. 
Retiring  from  active  business  on  account  of  ill  health,  he  built  a sub- 
stantial residence  on  East  Lee  street,  and  there  lived  until  his  death, 
January  23,  1902.  He  was  held  in  high  esteem  as  a man  of  honor  and 
worth,  and  served  his  fellow-townsmen  in  many  offices  of  trust  and 
responsibility,  in  the  administration  of  public  affairs  being  careful  and 
conscientious.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  serving  his  second  term 
as  mayor  of  the  city.  On  June  4,  1864,  he  married  Lydia  A.  Baker, 
who  was  born  August  4,  1844,  near  the  city  of  Mansfield,  Richland 
county,  Ohio,  and  is  now  living  in  Kenton,  Ohio.  Two  children  were  born 
of  their  union,  namely : Curtis  Avra,  and  Harvey  W.  of  Pittsburg,  Penn- 
sylvania. 

After  leaving  the  district  schools  Curtis  Avra  Robinson  attended 
the  public  schools  of  Kenton  for  a time,  acquiring  a practical  business 
education.  For  a number  of  years  he  was  engaged  in  the  livery  business 
at  Alger,  but  he  has  always  been  more  or  less  interested  in  agriculture, 
and  is  now  numbered  among  the  foremost  farmers  and  stock-raisers  of 
Hardin  county.  He  owns  a valuable  farm  of  one  hundred  and  eighty- 
eight  acres  on  section  fourteen,  Cessna  township,  and  in  addition  to 
having  property  in  Alger,  including  a business  house,  and  two  dwelling 
houses,  he  is  a stock-holder  in  the  new  J.  W.  Kirts  Company  department 
store  at  Alger. 

Mr.  Robinson  married,  April  29,  1890,  Ruah  A.  Shadley,  who  was 
born  in  Marion  township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  October  24,  1869,  on  the 
farm  on  which  her  father,  W.  A.  Shadley,  was  born  and  reared,  it  hav- 
ing been  entered  from  the  government  by  her  grandfather,  Sampson 
Shadley.  Her  father  is  now  a resident  of  Tennessee.  Mrs.  Robinson’s 
mother  was  Mary  E.  McElhaney  and  she  died  June  3,  1876,  at  the  age  of 
thirty-three  years,  eleven  months  and  seven  days.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Robinson  have  one  child,  Parker  Avra  Robinson,  who  was  born,  October 
26,  1902,  near  Delta,  Ohio.  Mrs.  Robinson  is  a woman  of  culture  and 
refinement,  and  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Politi- 
cally Mr.  Robinson  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in  favor  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  fraternally  he  is  a charter  member  of  Alger  Lodge  No. 
751,  K.  of  P.,  and  of  Kenton  Lodge  No.  157,  B.  P.  0.  E. 

John  Scott  Slcun,  a prominent  farmer  and  stockman  of  Taylor 
Creek  township,  was  born  on  the  farm  where  his  father  lives,  April  30, 
1883.  He  is  a son  of  Robert  and  Ada  V.  (Rice)  Sloan,  the  former  also 
a farmer.  Robert  Sloan  was  born  January  5,  1858,  and  is  a son  of  John 
Sloan,  who  died  July  6,  1883,  at  the  age  of  sixty-one  years.  John  Sloan 
and  his  wife,  Margaret,  came  to  the  United  States  from  Ireland,  and 
settled  in  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  purchasing  the  present  Sloan  farm.  He 
purchased  this  large  farm  in  1866  and  settled  in  what  was  then  the 
forest  and  he  built  a log  house  and  began  clearing  the  land.  He  enlisted 
in  the  Union  Army  and  served  nine  months.  Mr.  Sloan  was  a member 
of  the  United  Presbyterian  church.  He  and  his  wife  had  four  children 
and  besides  Robert  one  other  is  still  living,  Emma,  unmarried,  living 
at  Belle  Center,  Ohio. 


614 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


The  childhood  and  youth  of  Robert  Sloan  was  spent  on  a farm  and 
he  received  a conunon  school  education.  He  worked  for  his  father  and 
lived  with  his  parents  until  his  majority.  He  has  lived  about  thirty 
years  on  his  present  farm  and  until  his  marriage  his  sister  was  his 
housekeeper.  He  makes  a specialty  of  breeding  and  raising  stock  and 
has  made  all  possible  improvements,  so  that  now  he  has  one  of  the  most 
modern  homes  in  the  township.  He  is  a member  of  the  United  Presby- 
terian church  of  Silver  Creek  and  politically  is  a Republican.  Mr. 
Sloan  has  served  as  township  supervisor. 

In  1882  Robert  Sloan  married  Ada  V.  Rice,  who  was  born  February 
9,  1862,  daughter  of  Robert  Rice,  who  died  in  1903,  at  the  age  of  seventy 
years.  He  removed  to  Taylor  Creek  township,  Hardin  county,  from 
Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  and  was  a farmer  all  his  life.  Mr.  Rice 
married  Mary  Ann  Koons,  who  died  in  December,  1906,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-six,  and  was  a daughter  of  William  and  Martha  (Shepard)  Koons, 
pioneers  of  Hardin  county.  Besides  Mrs.  Sloan  her  parents  had  two 
other  children,  namely:  Clara  May,  wife  of  Judge  Roberts,  a farmer  of 
Taylor  Creek  township,  and  Roy  C.,  a farmer  of  Huntsville.  Robert 
Rice  was  a son  of  John  and  Eliza  (Seaton)  Rice  and  grandson  of  Clement 
Rice.  Eliza  Seaton  was  born  in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  February 
8,  1812,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Nancy  Seaton,  who  came  to  Ohio  from 
Pennsylvania  before  the  war  of  1812,  in  which  Mr.  Seaton  served.  Robert 
Rice’s  father,  John  Rice,  was  justice  of  the  peace  for  years,  also  served 
as  assessor  of  the  township,  and  was  the  Whig  nominee  at  one  time,  for 
probate  judge,  but  was  defeated.  He  died  December  20,  1861. 

The  brothers  and  sisters  of  John  S.  Sloan  are : Mary  Jane,  born 

in  1884,  does  dressmaking  at  home;  Lloyd  Judson,  born  in  1886,  married 
Cleo  Shinclwolf ; Paul  Raymond,  born  in  1887,  at  home ; Alta,  born  in 
1892,  at  home;  Grace  Irene,  born  in  1895;  Elmer  Leroy,  born  in  1898 
and  Frank  Marshall,  born  in  1900. 

John  S.  Sloan  spent  his  boyhood  on  a farm,  attended  the  district 
school  and  afterward  attended  school  one  year  in  Kenton.  He  then 
went  to  Ada  University  two  terms  and  for  four  years  in  Silver  Creek 
drove  a liuxter  wagon.  Since  that  time  he  has  devoted  his  attention 
to  farming  and  stock-raising,  and  makes  a specialty  of  high  grade  stock, 
having  three  thoroughbred  hogs,  O.  I.,  C.  and  Dew  Rock. 

February  20,  1906,  Mr.  Sloan  married  Marie  Hannah  Breidenbaugh, 
born  June  10,  1888,  daughter  of  John  and  Barbara  (Reffer)  Breiden- 
baugh. The  maternal  grandparents  of  Mrs.  Sloan,  Nicholas  Reffer 
and  Catherine  Reffer,  nee  Lintz,  were  born  in  Albach,  Hessen,  Ger- 
many, the  date  of  his  birth  being  February  25,  1829,  and  that  of 
his  wife  September  22,  1827.  Before  coming  to  America,  Mr.  Reffer 
was  a miller,  but  after  coming  here  (in  1853),  he  became  a farmer 
and  lived  south  of  Kenton  on  what  was  known  as  the  old  Shirk  place, 
until  he  built  a fine  frame  house  on  Taylor  Creek  pike,  three  miles 
from  Kenton,  where  he  and  his  wife  lived  the  remainder  of  their 
lives.  Mr.  Reffer  died  June  17,  1894,  and  his  wife  July  6,  1898.  To  them 
thirteen  children  were  born,  all  of  whom  are  living  except  Mary,  who 


of  <% 


L&' 


C JL- 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


615 


died  June  25,  1909,  and  Barbara,  who  died  December  7,  1899.  Barbara 
Reffer,  Mrs.  Sloan’s  mother,  was  born  May  23,  1859,  and  married  John 
Breidenbaugh  March  16,  1882.  He  was  born  in  Grant,  Ohio,  December 
15,  1860.  They  conducted  a grocery  in  Grant  until  1887,  when  they 
moved  to  a farm  east  of  Grant,  where  Mr.  Breidenbaugh  died  December 
7,  1898.  To  them  three  children  were  born : Marie,  Alta  and  Teana. 

Mr.  Sloan  and  his  wife  have  one  daughter,  Catherine  Virginia,  born 
June  27,  1907,  who  is  the  only  grandchild  of  the  Sloan  family.  Mr. 
Sloan  is  a member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church  of  Silver  Creek, 
and  also  belongs  to  the  local  Grange.  Politically  he  is  a Republican  and 
takes  an  active  interest  in  public  affairs.  He  was  elected  in  1909  for 
a first  term  of  two  years  in  the  office  of  township  treasurer.  He  is  an 
enterprising  and  industrious  farmer  and  has  been  very  successful  in 
all  his  undertakings.  He  is  well  known  in  the  county  and  highly  re- 
spected. 

Samuel  A.  Crozier  has  during  many  years  been  numbered  among 
the  influential  and  representative  agricultural  residents  of  Washington 
township,  but  he  has  been  distinctively  the  architect  of  his  own  fortunes 
and  is  numbered  among  the  ever  honored  class  of  “self-made  men.”  He 
was  one  of  the  six  children  born  to  Daker  Crozier  and  a Miss  Boyd,  both 
of  Irish  birth,  namely:  Robert,  deceased,  James,  Sarah,  Mary,  Robert, 
and  Samuel  A.  Daker  Crozier  owned  at  one  time  seventy-five  acres  of 
land  in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  but  he  finally  returned  to  his  native  land. 

Samuel  A.  Crozier,  born  in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  in  1860,  was  left 
motherless  when  but  five  years  of  age,  and  in  his  early  youth  he  was 
thrown  upon  his  own  resources.  He  was  reared  and  educated  in  the 
county  of  his  nativity,  and  agriculture  has  proved  his  life’s  occupation. 
Forty  acres  of  his  present  homestead  he  has  owned  since  1882,  the  re- 
maining forty  having  been  purchased  in  1902.  When  he  became  the 
owner  of  the  first  tract  it  was  in  an  unsightly  and  unimproved  state, 
containing  a little  log  cabin  which  served  as  his  home  for  a number  of 
years,  but  with  his  family  he  now  enjoys  the  luxury  of  a comfortable 
brick  residence  and  splendid  farm  buildings.  He  married  in  1884  Miss 
Alice,  a daughter  of  Levi  and  Almina  Hatcher,  and  two  sons  blessed 
their  marriage  union,  Janies  C.  and  Ira  C.,  but  the  older  one  met  death 
in  1904  by  a runaway  team.  He  was  a young  man  of  the  greatest 
promise,  and  was  loved  and  honored  wherever  known.  Mrs.  Crozier 
was  born  in  Logan  county  in  1865,  one  of  the  three  children  of  Levi  and 
Almina  Hatcher,  James,  deceased,  Alice  and  Charles,  but  the  daughter 
is  the  only  representative  of  the  family  in  Hardin  county.  Mr.  Crozier 
is  a member  of  the  fraternal  order  of  Odd  Fellows.  Mrs.  Crozier  belongs 
to  the  Methodist  Protestant  church. 

William  C.  Kahler,  a prominent  farmer  of  Pleasant  township, 
Hardin  county,  Ohio,  was  born  in  the  township  where  he  now  resides, 
in  1883,  son  of  William  and  Mary  (Bloom)  Kahler,  and  grandson  of 
Conrad  Kahler.  Conrad  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Hardin  county, 
and  there  made  his  fortune.  He  was  a native  of  Germany,  and  upon 


616 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


his  arrival  in  the  county,  Kenton  was  only  a small  village ; there  were  few 
settlers  in  the  neighborhood,  and  land  was  plenty.  The  only  capital 
he  had  was  his  ambition,  energy  and  pluck,  as  his  cash  in  hand  consisted 
of  only  ten  cents,  and  aside  from  the  clothes  he  wore  his  wardrobe  was 
contained  in  a handkerchief  which  was  slung  over  his  back.  After  living 
a short  time  in  his  adopted  country  he  began  to  prosper,  and  soon  desired 
to  avail  himself  of  the  splendid  opportunities  all  around  him;  he  lost 
no  time,  but  invested  his  savings  to  good  advantage,  as  soon  as  he  had 
worked  long  enough  to  obtain  a little  money,  and  in  time  became  the 
owner  of  700  acres  of  land.  lie  also  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
brick,  building  up  an  extensive  business  in  this  line,  and  carried  on 
this  enterprise  a number  of  years.  The  two  large  dwelling  houses  now 
on  the  family  homestead  were  built  in  1879,  from  bricks  of  his  own  manu- 
facture, and  he  also  made  the  brick  used  in  many  large  buildings  of  the 
community.  Not  only  did  Conrad  Kahler  acquire  wealth,  but  he  became 
an  influential  citizen,  and  served  at  one  time  as  commissioner  of  Hardin 
county.  His  large  estate  was  on  the  edge  of  the  village  of  Kenton,  and 
extended  three  miles  north  of  it.  He  and  his  wife,  who  was  Hannah 
Meyers,  a native  of  Germany,  were  members  of  the  German  Reformed 
church.  They  had  children  as  follows:  Edward,  William,  Henry,  Emma 
and  Minnie,  all  deceased;  they  were  all  born  in  Pleasant  township. 

William  Kahler  was  born  in  1858,  on  his  father’s  farm  near  Kenton, 
and  inherited  his  share  of  the  estate ; he  improved  this  land,  and  held 
it  until  his  death,  July  27,  1887.  His  widow,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Mary  Bloom,  is  also  a native  of  Pleasant  township,  and  survives  him ; 
she  was  born  October  26,  1862.  They  were  parents  of  two  children,  Eva 
deceased,  and  William  C. 

William  C.  Kahler  was  reared  in  his  native  township,  and  received 
his  education  in  the  public  schools.  When  old  enough  he  began  working 
on  his  father’s  farm.  Upon  attaining  his  majority  he  moved  to  his 
present  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  first-class  farming  land. 
He  is  a successful  farmer,  and  carries  on  general  farming  in  a scientific 
and  efficient  manner.  He  is  well  known  in  the  community,  where  his 
entire  life  has  been  spent,  and  has  many  friends. 

In  1907  Mr.  Kahler  married  Nettie,  daughter  of  John  and  Margaret 
Deucker,  natives  of  Germany  and  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  respectively. 
Mrs.  Kahler  was  born  in  Buck  township,  Hardin  county,  in  1888.  John 
Deucker  was  born  in  1853,  and  emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  1870; 
he  was  married  in  Hardin  county,  and  owned  two  hundred  acres  of 
land  in  Buck  township,  where  he  lived  until  1897  and  then  removed  to 
Cleveland,  Ohio.  He  and  his  wife  had  six  children,  all  born  in  the 
county,  namely : William,  Karl,  Mary,  Emma,  Minnie,  and  Nettie.  Mr. 
Kahler  and  his  wife  have  one  daughter,  Madeline  M. 

L.  D.  Sells,  D.  D.  S.,  has  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  dentistry 
in  Ada,  Ohio,  since  1881,  and  is  well  known  and  held  in  high  esteem 
here.  Dr.  Sells  was  born  in  Vinton,  Benton  county,  Iowa,  in  1860,  son 
of  George  W.  and  Anna  (McCoy)  Sells,  natives  of  Columbus,  Ohio.  In 
early  life  George  W.  Sells  was  a merchant  at  Dublin,  near  Columbus, 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY* 


617 


but  later  was  a commercial  traveler.  He  moved  to  Iowa  in  1855  and  took 
up  his  residence  at  Vinton  in  Benton  county,  where  he  made  his  home 
until  the  fall  of  1867,  when  he  returned  to  Ohio  and  settled  at  Ada  in 
Hardin  county.  After  they  came  to  Ada,  his  wife  engaged  in  the 
milliner  business,  which  she  conducted  five  years.  He  traveled  until 
well  advanced  in  years,  and  died  here  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine.  She 
is  still  living,  spending  her  summers  in  Ada,  and  winters  in  Chicago  with 
her  son,  L.  B.  In  their  family  were  three *sons  and  one  daughter;  the 
daughter  is  deceased. 

L.  D.  Sells,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  was  seven  years  old  when 
they  came  to  Ada,  and  here  he  was  educated  in  the  Ohio  Northern  Uni- 
versity. He  prepared  himself  for  the  practice  of  his  profession,  at 
Ann  Arbor,  Michigan,  where  he  graduated  in  1880,  and  the  year  follow- 
ing his  graduation  he  opened  an  office  in  Ada,  where  he  has  since  con- 
ducted a successful  practice  in  dentistry. 

July  24,  1881.  he  married  Miss  Lizzie  Cline,  a native  of  Knox  county, 
Ohio,  and  a daughter  of  Phillip  Cline,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  that 
county.  They  have  three  sons  and  one  daughter,  namely:  Fred,  of  Utica, 
Ohio,  and  Morris,  Paul  and  Ruth,  at  home. 

Politically,  the  doctor  is  a Republican,  and  has  always  taken  a com- 
mendable interest  in  local  affairs.  He  was  twice  elected  and  served  two 
terms  as  a member  of  the  City  Council.  Fraternally,  he  is  identified 
with  the  Masonic  Order,  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  the  Odd  Fellows. 
His  religious  creed  is  that  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  of  which  for 
years  he  has  been  a worthy  member. 


R.  S.  Shanks,  descends  from  perhaps  one  of  the  oldest  and  best 
known  families  of  Liberty  township.  His  grandfather  on  the  paternal 
side,  Thomas  Shanks,  came  from  Crawford  county,  Ohio,  to  Hardin 
county  in  1832,  entering  here  two  hundred  acres  of  the  government  land 
and  building  thereon  a cabin,  the  typical  dwelling  of  pioneer  days.  He 
lived  principally  on  the  products  of  the  forest,  for  game  was  then  in 
abundance,  and  in  due  time  his  wild  land  showed  signs  of  productive- 
ness, and  to  his  original  purchase  he  in  time  added  eighty  acres  more. 
Flis  wife  was  before  marriage  Susannah  Pence,  and  thirteen  children 
were  born  to  them,  Samuel,  Henry,  Thomas,  John,  William,  Jackson, 
Sarah,  Nancy,  Barbara,  Rachael.  Elizabeth.  Anna  and  Jane.  Both 
Thomas  and  Susannah  Shanks  were  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  were  of 
German  origin,  and  Thomas  died  in  the  year  1871.  He  was  one  hundred 
and  one  years  old  at  the  time  of  his  death.  His  wife  Susannah  died  in 
1860. 

John  Shanks,  one  of  the  thirteen  children,  was  born  in  Richland 
county,  Ohio,  in  1821,  and  was  eleven  years  of  age  when  his  parents  came 
to  Hardin  county.  He  remained  with  his  father  some  little  time  after 
his  marriage,  assisting  him  in  clearing  his  land,  and  in  1849  he  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  wild  land  in  Liberty  township,  and  as  he  cleared  and 
improved  in  turn  each  subsequent  purchase  he  kept  increasing  his  land 
holdings  until  he  now  owns  an  estate  of  four  hundred  acres,  while  each 
of  his  two  sons  owns  eighty  acres  in  their  own  name,  thus  making  in  this 


618 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


family  five  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  the  choice  farming  land  of  Hardin 
county.  John  Shanks  enjoys  good  health  and  is  unusally  vigorous  for  a 
man  of  his  years,  for  he  has  reached  the  eighty-eight  milestone  on  life’s 
journey,  and  he  is  revered  as  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Hardin  county. 
During  three  years  he  served  as  a county  commissioner,  and  in  1864,  an- 
swering the  call  of  the  north,  he  enlisted  as  a private  in  Company  I, 
One  Hundred  and  Thirty-fifth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  for  service  in 
the  Civil  war,  and  was  honorably  discharged  in  the  same  year.  He  is 
now  a member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  He  married  in  1846 
Miss  Jane  Mustard,  and  of  the  seven  children  which  blessed  their  mar- 
riage union  only  two  sons  survive,  the  younger  being  J.  H.  Shanks. 

R.  S.  Shanks,  the  elder  of  these  two  surviving  sons,  is  now  one  of 
the  well  known  agriculturists  of  Liberty  township,  where  he  has  owned 
a splendidly  cultivated  farm  of  eighty  acres  since  1876,  and  this  land 
was  purchased  by  his  father  in  1863.  He  was  born  in  Liberty  township 
January  1,  1851,  and  he  was  reared  and  educated  here,  attending  its 
district  schools  and  also  the  Ada  schools.  His  first  vocation  in  life  was 
teaching,  and  he  followed  that  profession  for  twenty-five  years  with  grati- 
fying success.  In  1872  he  was  happily  married  to  Miss  Mary  C.,  a 
daughter  of  Abram  and  Anna  E.  Ream,  and  their  three  children  are 
William  C.,  Frances  L.  and  Anna  E.  The  son  married  in  1897  Miss 
Clara  Cronbaugh,  while  the  elder  daughter  married  Mr.  M.  Runser  in 
1906  and  the  younger  married  M.  D.  Cronbaugh  on  the  27th  of  June, 
1905.  Mrs.  Shanks  was  born  in  Stark  county,  Ohio,  October  5,  1851.  The 
family  are  worthy  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  Mr.  Shanks 
is  also  associated  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  with 
the  Patrons  of  Husbandry. 

Joseph  Powell,  a successful  farmer  and  stockman  of  Marion  town- 
ship, Hardin  county,  Ohio,  is  a native  of  the  township,  born  March  2, 
1850,  a son  of  William  and  Nancy  (Lyons)  Powell.  William  Powell  was 
born  in  England,  and  came  with  his  father,  Joseph  Powell,  to  the  United 
States,  in  1814,  when  four  years  of  age.  Joseph  Powell  and  his  family 
settled  in  Marion  township,  and  here  he  purchased  land  and  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  He  cleared  his  land  and  became  a prominent  and 
successful  farmer.  He  was  interested  in  the  cause  of  progress  and  ad- 
vancement, and  v/as  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  of  Huntersville.  Joseph  Powell  had  four  children,  of  whom  one 
survives,  Benjamin,  of  Kansas. 

The  childhood  of  William  Powell  was  spent  on  his  father’s  farm 
and  he  attended  the  public  schools.  He  married  and  reared  his  family 
in  Marion  township.  His  seven  children  were : Elizabeth,  deceased, 

wife  of  John  Kiester;  Sarah,  wife  of  William  Moore,  of  Liberty  town- 
ship; Joseph;  George,  deceased;  Mary,  deceased;  James  H.,  of  Kenton; 
Ohio,  and  dohn  W.,  of  Marion  township. 

Joseph  Powell  was  reared  on  his  father’s  farm  in  Marion  township 
and  attended  the  district  school  until  he  was  about  nineteen  years  of 
age,  also  helping  with  the  work  of  carrying  on  the  farm.  He  then 
directed  his  attention  to  farming  until  he  was  twenty-three  years  of  age. 


- 


’X- 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


619 


In  1873  Mr.  Powell  married  Olive  E.  Henry,  who  was  born  in  Richland 
county,  Ohio,  and  died  February  27.  1900.  They  were  parents  of  chil- 
dren as  follows:  one  child,  who  died  in  infancy;  William  IF.  born  Sep- 
tember 15,  1875,  married  Eva  Guider  and  they  live  in  Liberty  township; 

O.  C.,  born  June  29,  1877,  married  Frances  Huggett  and  they  live  in 
Washington  township ; Estella  M.,  born  February  10.  1879.  wife  of 
Charles  Matthews;  Verna,  born  December  3.  1880,  unmarried  and  living 
at  home ; and  William  H.  The  last  two  have  been  school  teachers.  All 
have  received  good  educations  and  are  intelligent,  useful  men  and  women. 

At  the  time  of  the  death  of  the  wife  and  mother  the  following  lines 
were  written  in  the  paper  in  her  memory:  “Olive  Esmarilla  Henry 

was  born  in  Richland  county,  Ohio,  August  14,  1854.  and  departed  this 
life  February  27,  1900,  aged  forty-five  years  six  months  and  thirteen 
days.  She  came  with  her  parents  to  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  September  9, 
1863,  where  she  has  since  resided.  She  united  with  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church  at  Huntersville  when  eleven  years  of  age,  and  has  remained 
a faithful  and  consistent  Christian  the  remainder  of  her  life,  endeavoring 
to  do  the  will  of  her  Master.  She  leaves  a husband,  four  children,  three 
sisters,  a brother  and  a host  of  relatives  and  friends  to  mourn  her  loss. 
Her  body  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  Huntersville  cemetery.  She  was  spoken 
of  by  all  as  a noble  woman.” 

Politically  Mr.  Powell  is  a Republican  and  he  has  served  as 
township  trustee.  He  owns  eightv-seven  acres  of  section  one  and  has 
a well  improved  farm,  equipped  with  modern  machinery.  He  is  an  in- 
dustrious, progressive  citizen,  well  known  in  the  community,  where  he 
is  highly  respected. 

P.  W.  Young  has  been  a resident  of  Washington  township.  Hardin 
county,  Ohio,  since  1870,  and  since  1873  has  owned  and  occupied  his 
present  farm  of  one  hundred  sixty  acres.  This  place  was  formerly 
known  as  the  “Kreidler  farm.”  Since  Mr.  Young  came  into  possession 
of  it  he  has  cleared  and  placed  under  cultivation  a hundred  and  twelve 
acres.  He  remodeled  the  buildings  that  were  already  here  and  built 
others,  and  in  a general  way  beautified  his  surroundings.  Today  he  has 
one  of  the  best  farms  in  his  locality. 

Mr.  Young  is  a native  of  Ohio.  He  was  born  in  Knox  county,  in 
1845,  son  of  Eli  and  Amelia  (Rush)  Young,  the  former  a native  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  the  latter  of  New  Jersey.  In  their  family  were 
seven  children : Freeman,  Louis,  Emeline,  Clara,  Sarah.  Hannah,  and 

P.  W.,  the  last  named  being  the  only  one  of  the  number  to  take  up  his 
abode  in  Hardin  county.  The  first  twenty  years  of  his  life  were  passed 
in  his  native  county  and  there  he  received  a common  school  education. 
Then  he  went  to  Iowa.  Two  years  later,  we  find  him  in  Illinois,  where 
he  bought  a farm  and  where  he  made  his  home  for  a period  of  five  years. 
In  1870  he  returned  to  Ohio,  and  since  that  date,  as  already  stated,  he 
has  been  a resident  of  Hardin  county. 

The  same  year  he  purchased  his  farm,  1873,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Emily  J.  Vaughn,  who  was  born  in  1853  in  Marion  county, 
Ohio,  daughter  of  Thomas  Vaughn.  The  fruits  of  their  union  are  two 


620 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


sons  and  five  daughters,  namely:  Thomas,  a local  preacher;  Freeman, 

a lawyer  of  Colorado,  and  professor  in  a high  school  in  Ft.  Morgan-; 
Catherine,  now  the  wife  of  E.  Shadley;  Corrinna,  wife  of  F.  Westervelt; 
Icy,  wife  of  E.  Hayes;  Zella;  and  Maude,  who  is  the  wife  of  Leroy 
Turner,  a farmer  in  Marion. 

During  his  residence  in  Washington  township,  Mr.  Young  has 
always  taken  a deep  interest  in  the  welfare  of  his  community.  For 
twelve  years  he  has  been  a member  of  the  school  board,  and  he  has  also 
filled  the  office  of  supervisor.  The  family  belong  to  the  Methodist- 
Episcopal  church. 

John  Morgan  Jones. — The  late  John  Morgan  Jones,  who  was  a suc- 
cessful farmer  of  Hardin  county  and  for  a few  years  prior  to  his  death 
lived  retired  in  the  city  of  Kenton,  was  born  in  Knox  county,  Ohio, 
November  6,  1832.  Mr.  Jones  was  a son  of  John  and  Sarah  (Bradbury) 
Jones,  the  former  from  New  Jersey  and  the  latter  from  Pennsylvania. 
They  were  early  settlers  of  Knox  county,  where  Mr.  Jones  followed 
farming,  and  about  1850  they  located  in  Hardin  county,  where  they 
bought  a farm  and  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  Mr.  Jones  was 
born  in  1800  and  died  in  1866,  at  the  age  of  sixty  years,  and  his  wife 
who  was  born  in  1818,  died  in  1875.  She  survived  him  a number  of  years. 

John  Morgan  Jones  spent  his  youth  on  his  father’s  farm,  attending 
the  common  school  winters  and  helping  with  the  work  of  the  farm  as 
soon  as  old  enough.  While  still  under  age  he  taught  two  years  in  Knox 
county,  and  after  the  removal  of  the  family  to  Hardin  county  taught  a 
few  terms  in  the  latter  county.  He  was  an  ambitious  and  hard-working 
young  man,  and  made  the  most  of  his  opportunities  for  education  and 
culture.  His  habits  were  commendable,  and  he  was  ever  a home  man. 

In  1855  Mr.  Jones  married  Elizabeth  M.  Gillen,  daughter  of  Edward 
and  Margaret  (King)  Gillen,  both  natives  of  New  Jersey,  who  came  west 
and  settled  in  Hardin  county  in  the  fall  of  1853.  They  bought  a farm 
near  Washington,  consisting  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  and  here 
improved  the  land  and  developed  a fine  farm.  The  Kings  were  one 
of  the  old  families  of  New  Jersey. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Jones  purchased  a farm  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres,  south  of  Dunkirk.  He  subsequently  bought  and  sold 
a number  of  farms  and  finally  purchased  the  one  of  ninety-two  and  a 
half  acres  a half  mile  from  Kenton  which  is  now  conducted  by  his  son. 
In  1902  Mr.  Jones  and  his  wife  removed  to  Kenton  and  made  a per- 
manent residence  there.  They  became  parents  of  ten  children,  of  whom 
six  now  survive.  Mr.  Jones  died  in  1906,  mourned  by  his  family  and 
a large  number  of  friends.  He  was  a man  of  good  principles  and  high 
character,  whose  dealings  with  his  fellows  were  distinguished  by  honesty 
and  uprightness.  Mr.  Jones  was  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  and  upheld  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party.  While  liv- 
ing on  this  farm  he  served  three  years  as  justice  of  the  peace.  He 
was  a successful  farmer  and  made  several  good  investments.  His  widow 
still  resides  in  Kenton.  She  is  enjoying  good  health  and  her  fine  home. 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


621 


William  M.  Gilmore— The  late  William  M.  Gilmore,  of  Kenton, 
Ohio,  was  one  of  the  most  enterprising  business  men  of  the  city,  where  he 
spent  his  entire  life.  He  was  a native  of  Kenton,  born  in  1849,  and  a 
son  of  William  and  Martha  (Alexander)  Gilmore,  the  former  born  in 
Cumberland  county,  Pennsylvania,  January  17,  1825.  William  Gilmore 
located  in  Kenton  in  1846,  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  there. 
He  walked  from  his  home  through  the  mountains  to  Pittsburg,  taking 
a boat  from  there  to  Cincinnati,  and  as  there  was  then  no  railroad,  he 
walked  from  Springfield  to  Kenton.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneer  busi- 
ness men  of  Kenton  and  was  for  thirty  years  a successful  boot  and  shoe 
merchant.  lie  was  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  an 
influential  citizen. 

William  M.  Gilmore  acquired  his  education  in  the  public  schools 
and  learned  the  trade  of  jeweler,  following  the  same  all  his  life.  He 
owned  a fine  jewelery  store,  running  an  establishment  on  the  south  side 
of  the  square  for  a time  and  afterward  locating  on  the  west  side,  where 
he  owned  a store  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

In  1879  Mr.  Gilmore  married  Mary  Louise  Freschkon,  daughter  of 
Coonrod  and  Elizabeth  (Strahm)  Freschkon,  both  of  whom  were  born 
in  Germany  and  came  to  America  in  youth.  They  were  married  in  this 
country,  settling  near  Patterson,  Hardin  county,  where  the  remainder 
of  their  days  was  spent.  The  union  of  Mr.  Gilmore  and  his  wife  was 
without  issue.  Mr.  Gilmore  was  an  industrious,  hardworking  man,  who 
had  good  business  judgement  and  was  very  successful  in  his  line  of 
business.  He  became  a well-known  and  influential  citizen,  who  had  a 
large  circle  of  friends.  Ilis  high  character  and  honesty  were  highly 
appreciated.  Politically  he  was  a Democrat.  Mr.  Gilmore  died  on 
December  30,  1899. 

Rev.  Benjamin  Waddle,  D.  D. — One  of  the  men  who  took  a promi- 
nent part,  in  affairs  in  Hardin  county  during  his  life  was  Benjamin 
Waddle,  now  deceased.  Mr.  Waddle  was  born  near  Wheeling,  West  Vir- 
ginia, in  June,  1802,  and  was  a son  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Neilson) 
Waddle,  the  latter  a descendant  of  Thomas  Neilson,  a member  of  the 
Continental  congress,  living  in  Pennsylvania.  The  family  later  moved 
to  Virginia,  locating  in  that  state  about  1795.  Both  William  Waddle 
and  his  wife  were  born  during  the  American  Revolution,  and  his  father 
served  in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  and  was  a talented  musician.  Three 
of  Mrs.  Waddle’s  brothers  moved  to  New  Orleans  at  an  early  day,  be- 
coming prominent  attorneys. 

The  early  education  of  Benjamin  Waddle  was  received  in  private 
schools,  and  when  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age  he  decided  to  study 
for  the  ministry.  His  father  wished  to  give  him  his  share  of  the  family 
estate  to  enable  him  to  attend  college,  but  he  refused  the  offer  and  de- 
termined to  work  his  own  way  through  school.  He  began  teaching  school, 
attended  college  in  Wheeling  and  completed  his  training  at  Pittsburg, 
Pennsylvania,  being  ordained  a United  Presbyterian  minister  in  Perry 
county,  Ohio,  in  1829.  Proceeding  to  New  Concord,  he  set  to  work  to 
establish  a Presbyterian  college,  completing  his  project  in  1837  and  be- 

Vol.  ii— is 


622 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


coming  the  first  president  of  the  institution.  He  was  a president  pro- 
fessor in  this  college  for  a period  of  twenty  years,  and  is  remembered 
affectionately  by  all  who  came  under  his  charge  and  had  the  benefit  of 
his  advice  and  training.  This  school  to-day  ranks  high  among  the  ed- 
ucational institutions  of  its  kind  in  the  country  and  is  under  the  care 
of  the  United  Presbyterian  church. 

In  1859  Rev.  Waddle  removed  to  Hardin  county,  where  he  took 
charge  in  December  of  a congregation,  enlarging  the  membership  of 
the  church  and  serving  with  great  distinction  and  ability.  He  was  a 
man  of  great  earnestness  and  was  generously  gifted  in  qualifications 
for  his  great  work  in  life.  His  high  character  was  appreciated  by  all 
who  dealt  with  him  and  his  eloquence  greatly  admired.  He  held  several 
offices  of  importance  and  served  creditably  in  all  of  them.  He  was  for 
twelve  years  county  school  examiner  and  was  the  founder  of  the  county 
institute.  Rev.  Waddle  was  sent  to  represent  his  district  in  the  state 
legislature  about  1872-3,  and  was  offered  the  renomination  but  refused 
to  accept  same.  ITe  gave  the  public  freely  of  his  time  and  talents,  and 
his  public  work  will  long  be  remembered. 

In  1829  Rev.  Waddle  married  Martha  A.,  daughter  of  William  and 
Margaret  (Herdman)  Glenn,  the  former  born  in  Lancaster,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  the  latter  a native  of  Ireland,  who  came  to  the  United  States 
at  the  age  of  seven  years.  Her  grandparents  bought  land  near  Pitts- 
burg for  the  very  low  price  of  six  dollars  an  acre  in  1800  and  the  city 
of  Carnegie  is  built  on  the  Glenn  estate.  Benjamin  Waddle  and  his  wife 
were  the  parents  of  five  children  (two  sons  and  three  daughters),  of 
whom  three  still  survive.  One  son,  Benjamin  N.,  enlisted  at  Cadiz,  Ohio, 
in  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-sixth  Ohio,  and  served  three  years  in 
the  Civil  war.  He  was  taken  prisoner  at  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness 
and  sent  to  Andersonville  prison.  Being  a very  fine  singer,  he  soon 
won  warm  friends  and  conducted  a notable  meeting  in  which  he  made 
many  converts.  Shortly  after  this  the  famous  spring  was  discovered  and 
called  “Providence  Spring.”  Mr.  Waddle  died  soon  after  his  release. 
The  other  children  of  Rev.  Waddle  and  his  wife  were:  Mrs.  Anna  M. 
Campbell,  Miss  Lizzie,  the  only  surviving  member  of  the  family  living  at 
Kenton  and  W.  G.  Waddle,  a minister  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church 
at  New  Athens,  Ohio.  Benjamin  Waddle  died  in  May,  1879,  and  his 
widow  passed  away  in  1881. 

William  Elsasser,  superintendent  of  the  Hardin  County  Infirmary, 
which  is  located  in  Pleasant  township,  is  a man  of  prominence  among 
the  county  officials,  possessing  in  an  eminent  degree  the  discretion,  trust- 
worthiness and  force  of  character  requisite  for  the  responsible  position 
whicli  he  has  so  ably  filled  since  he  was  called  to  its  duties  in  1902.  A 
native  of  this  township,  he  was  born  May  31,  1856,  a son  of  John  Elsasser, 
His  paternal  grandparents  were  natives  and  life-long  residents  of 
Germany,  where  the  grandfather,  who  was  a weaver  by  trade,  made  cloth 
for  the  Royal  family.  They  reared  three  children,  Eva,  Lena  and  John, 
all  of  whom  came  to  America. 

Born  and  brought  up  in  Germany,  John  Elsasser  received  a college 


RESIDENCE  OF  J.  G.  TRESSEL 


a 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


623 


education,  after  which  he  turned  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits. 
Subsequently  desirous  of  trying  life  in  the  United  States,  a country 
full  of  possibilities  for  the  industrious,  he  came  with  his  family  to  Amer- 
ica, having  a long  and  tedious  ocean  voyage  in  a sailing  vessel.  From 
New  York  he  came  directly  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Hardin  county.  He 
bought  seventy-one  acres  of  heavily  timbered  land  lying  three  miles  east 
of  Kenton,  paying  nine  hundred  dollars  for  the  tract.  Building  a log 
cabin  for  himself  and  family  he  labored  with  dilgence  and  perseverance, 
and  having  cleared  and  put  under  cultivation  a large  part  of  it  added 
another  forty  acres  to  his  original  purchase.  Successful  in  his  under- 
takings, he  erected  substantial  frame  buildings,  and  there  lived  in  peace 
and  plenty  until  his  demise,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years.  He  mar- 
ried in  the  Fatherland  Margaret  Bishop,  who  died  when  seventy-three 
years  old.  They  reared  five  sons,  Georger  Louis,  John,  Henry  and 
William,  of  whom  the  older  ones  were  born  in  Germany,  and  Henry  and 
William  were  born  in  America. 

Receiving  his  early  education  in  the  public  schools,  William  Elsasser 
assisted  his  father  in  the  work  during  the  long  vacations,  and  until  more 
than  twenty-one  years  of  age  remaining  at  home.  He  subsequently 
purchased  the  parental  homestead,  for  which  he  paid  six  thousand  six 
hundred  dollars,  and  engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock  raising.  In 
1902  Mr.  Elsasser  was  appointed  to  his  present  official  position,  and  has 
since  superintended  the  management  of  the  Infirmary  in  an  efficient  and 
acceptable  manner. 

Mr.  Elsasser  married  Margaret  Lutz,  who  was  born  in  Pleasant 
township,  Hardin  county,  where  her  father,  Nicholas  Lutz,  settled  on 
coming  to  this  country  from  Germany.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elsasser  are  the 
parents  of  six  children,-  namely:  Mary  E.,  Katherine,  Karl  Julius, 

Laura,  Minnie,  and  Florence,  all  at  home  but  Katherine,  who  is  in  Lima, 
Ohio.  A Republican  in  politics,  active  and  prominent  in  his  party, 
Mr.  Elsassef  has  served  as  township  trustee  nine  years  and  ten  months, 
being  the  first  Republican  in  the  office,  and  he  was  a Republican  candi- 
date for  sheriff.  He  has  been  a delegate  to  various  county  and  district 
conventions,  and  was  appointed  by  the  Governor  as  a delegate  to  the 
National  Charities  Convention  that  met  in  Richmond,  Virginia,  in  1908, 
and  to  the  one  that  met,  in  1909,  in  Buffalo,  New  York.  Fraternally 
Mr.  Elsasser  is  a member  of  lodge  No.  79,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  of  Scioto  Encamp- 
ment ; and  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  Religiously 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elsasser  belong  to  the  Evangelical  church. 

J.  G.  Tressel,  a prominent  farmer,  and  one  of  the  most  substantial 
and  prosperous  business  men  of  Liberty  township,  Hardin  county,  has 
long  been  an  important  factor  in  developing  and  promoting  the  indus- 
trial interests  of  this  part  of  the  Western  Reserve.  Enterprising  and 
practical,  he  has  taken  a wise  advantage  of  the  thick  stratum  of  stone 
which  covers  a large  part,  of  his  land  to  the  depth  of  five  hundred  feet  by 
opening  an  immense  quarry,  and  in  its  operation  he  gives  employment 
to  many  men,  the  stone  being  in  great  demand,  not  only  for  use  in 
piking  the  public  highways,  it  being  excellent  material  for  the  con- 


624 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


struction  of  state  roads,  but  in  the  manufacture  of  concrete.  A son  of 
the  late  John  Tressel,  lie  was  born,  June  20,  1865,  on  the  farm  where  he 
now  resides,  coming  from  honored  pioneer  stock.  A soldier  in  the  war 
of  1812,  George  Tressel,  Mr.  Tressel ’s  grandfather,  migrated  from 
Pennsylvania,  his  native  state,  to  Ohio,  in  the  early  part  of  the  nineteenth 
century,  settling  in  Tuscarawas  county.  He  married  Catherine  Shuster, 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  twelve  children,  John  being  one  of  the 
older  members  of  the  parental  household. 

Born  in  Warren  township,  Tuscarawas  county,  Ohio,  October  24, 
1810,  John  Tressel  was  brought  up  on  the  home  farm,  as  a boy  and 
youth  assisting  in  the  pioneer  tasks  incidental  to  pioneer  life.  His 
early  advantages  for  obtaining  an  education  were  meager,  but  through 
extensive  reading  and  keen  observation  he  outstripped  in  learning  many 
of  his  youthful  associates,  becoming  well-read  and  well-educated.  In 
1830  he  entered  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Hardin  county  from  the  govern- 
ment, paying  a dollar  and  a quarter  an  acre.  He  labored  with  un- 
ceasing toil  in  his  efforts  to  improve  his  land,  and  in  due  course  of  time 
had  improved  an  excellent  farm,  and  had  erected  a frame  house  in  place 
of  the  log  cabin  in  which  he  and  his  bride  began  housekeeping.  In 
1844  he  built  a grist  mill  for  his  own  use,  and  for  the  convenience  of  the 
few  scattering  settlers  in  this  and  adjacent  townships,  and  in  1846  built 
a saw  mill  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  lumber.  These  mills  he 
operated  successfully  for  upwards  of  a score  of  years,  carrying  on  a 
substantial  business.  A man  of  ability  and  influence,  he  served  his 
community  as  justice  of  the  peace,  and  in  many  of  the  township  offices. 
He  lived  to  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty-seven  years,  passing  away  in  1897. 

John  Tressel  married  first,  in  1833.  Eliza  Fappin,  who  died  in  1856, 
leaving  four  children,  as  follows:  Samuel,  Martha  J.,  George  C.,  and 

Angeline.  He  married  second,  in  1859,  Mrs.  Mary  (McKnight)  Wells, 
widow  of  Amos  Wells,  and  to  them  five  children  were  born,  namely: 
Alice,  deceased,  married  E.  M.  Turner;  Daniel  A;  Elizabeth,  a twin 
sister  of  Daniel  A.,  died  at  the  age  of  twelve  years ; Mrs.  Dora  Turner ; 
and  James  G.,  the  special  subject  of  this  sketch.  The  mother  of  these 
children  died  in  February,  1902,  aged  seventy-three  years  six  months 
and  twenty  days. 

Acquiring  his  early  education  in  the  district  schools  of  Liberty 
township,  J.  G.  Tressel  subsequently  became  actively  engaged  in  the 
development  and  advancement  of  its  agricultural  and  industrial  re- 
sources, and  now  occupies  a noteworthy  position  among  its  esteemed 
and  honored  citizens.  Coming  into  possession  in  1888  of  forty  acres 
of  the  parental  homestead,  he  has  continued  the  improvements  previously 
inaugurated,  erecting  a commodious  set  of  farm  buildings,  and  other- 
wise adding  to  its  value  until  now  it  is  one  of  the  most  attractive  and 
desirable  homesteads  to  be  found  in  this  vicinity.  During  the  time  that 
he  has  been  engaged  in  developing  his  large  quarry,  Mr.  Tressel  has 
filled  many  extensive  contracts  in  this  and  neighboring  townships,  in 
his  work  operating  a crusher  that  is  capable  of  an  output  of  one  hundred 
and  fifty  cubic  yards  per  day.  He  has  likewise  other  interests,  and  is 
now  building  a tile  factory  with  a capacity  of  four  thousand  tile  daily. 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


625 


Mr.  Tressel  married  in  1888,  Della  Hamilton,  who  was  born  in  Han- 
cock county,  Ohio,  and  they  have  one  child,  George  Ray  Tressel,  who  is 
now  a teacher  in  the  Hostler  School  District  No.  4,  Liberty  township. 
Mr.  Tressel  and  his  family  are  valued  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church  at  Ada. 

Samuel  Gilmore,  deceased,  formerly  a carpenter  and  builder  of 
Kenton,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Cumberland  county,  Pennsylvania,  June  27, 
1822,  son  of  Mitchell  and  Lizzie  (Johnston)  Gilmore,  the  former  a native 
of  Ireland  and  the  latter  of  England.  They  emigrated  to  the  United 
States  and  settled  in  Chambersburg,  Pennsylvania,  where  they  lived 
several  years,  then  located  in  Kenton,  where  they  spent  the  remainder 
of  their  lives.  Mrs.  Gilmore  died  at  the  age  of  ninety-one  years  and 
her  husband  died  a few  years  earlier. 

The  early  years  of  Samuel  Gilmore  were  spent  in  his  native  state, 
and  he  located  in  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  about  1847.  In  1852  he  married 
Eveline  Thompson,  daughter  of  Judge  Alex  Thompson,  who  had  prev- 
iously entered  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  from  the  government, 
this  land  being  located  at  the  northeastern  edge  of  what  is  now  Kenton. 
Later  he  sold  off  this  land  in  small  tracts,  all  except  sixteen  acres  where 
Samuel  Gilmore  erected  a two-story  frame  building  some  fifty  years 
ago.  Judge  Thompson  was  an  influential  citizen  and  an  active  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

Samuel  Gilmore  followed  his  trade  in  Kenton  for  many  years ; he 
worked  on  the  courthouse,  which  is  still  standing,  and  on  the  old  Central 
schoolhouse.  Later  he  began  contracting  and  erected  a large  number  of 
buildings  in  and  around  the  city  of  Kenton.  He  and  his  wife  had  but 
one  child,  Bell.  Mr.- Gilmore  died  in  1884  and  his  widow  survived  him 
many  years,  passing  away  November  5,  1907,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four 
years. 

Bell  Gilmore  married  Dr.  D.  C.  Smith,  son  of  Henry  and  Lydia 
(McCartney)  Smith,  the  former  born  in  Fairfield  county  and  the  latter 
in  Columbiana  county,  Ohio.  They  were  married  in  Ashland  county 
in  1837  and  came  to  Hardin  county  in  1838,  remaining  there  until  their 
deaths,  she  passing  away  August  17,  1876,  and  he  September  5,  1887. 
Dr.  Smith  and  his  wife  reside  on  the  sixteen  acres  of  land  formerlv 
owned  by  her  grandfather,  where  her  father  erected  a house  over  fifty 
years  ago. 

Mr.  Gilmore  is  well  remembered  by  the  older  residents  of  Kenton, 
and  was  well  known  throughout  the  county.  He  was  a man  of  superior 
business  ability  and  was  very  successful  in  his  line  of  endeavor. 

George  W.  O’Neal. — Progressive  and  enterprising,  George  W. 
O’Neal  is  actively  associated  with  the  industrial  prosperity  of  Kenton, 
where  he  is  carrying  on  an  extensive  and  substantial  business  as  an  e^ 
and  poultry  dealer  and  shipper.  He  was  born,  October  9,  1868,  near 
Marseilles,  Wyandot  county,  Ohio,  a son  of  Jeremiah  O’Neal.  His 
paternal  grandfather,  James  O’Neal,  was  a pioneer  settler  of  Marion 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  took  up  land  that  was  still  in  its  primitive  wild- 


62G 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


ness,  from  which  he  improved  a farm,  and  there  resided  until  his  death, 
in  1844.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Parthenia  Rice,  survived 
him,  and  married  for  her  second  husband  C.  C.  Alford. 

Born  in  Marion  county,  Ohio,  March  15,  1842,  Jeremiah  O’Neal  was 
but  two  years  old  when  his  father  died.  He  subsequently  lived  with  his 
mother  and  step-father,  as  a boy  assisting  on  the  farm,  and  having  but 
little  opportunity  to  attend  school.  In  May,  1864,  he  enlisted  in 
Company  G,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-fourth  Volunteer  Infantry,  and 
was  with  his  regiment  in  its  various  marches  and  campaigns  in  Maryland 
and  Virginia  until  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  enlistment,  when,  in 
September,  1864,  he  was  honorably  discharged  from  the  service.  Re- 
turning home,  he  bought  a threshing  machine,  which  he  operated  a part 
of  each  year,  the  remainder  of  the  time  being  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  staves.  Coming  from  Wyandot  county  to  Hardin  county  in  1882,  he 
lived  for  two  years  in  Patterson,  and  then  located  in  Kenton,  where  he 
was  for  several  years  successfully  employed  in  mercantile  pursuits,  but 
is  now  living  retired.  His  first  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth 
Bushong,  was  born  in  Hancock  county,  Ohio.  She  died  in  1874,  leaving 
three  children,  John,  George  W.  and  William  Edward.  He  married 
in  1877  Maria  Reed,  who  was  born  in  Ohio,  and  they  have  one  child, 
Beatrice.  Religiously  he  is  a member  of  the  Disciples  church,  and 
socially  he  belongs  to  Cantwell  Post  No.  97,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

Attending  the  public  schools  as  a boy  and  youth,  George  W.  O’Neal 
began  at  an  early  age  to  assist  his  father  in  the  store.  Just  before 
attaining  his  majority  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Big  Four  Railway 
Company,  in  Marion,  and  later  was  transferred  to  the  general  office  of 
the  company  in  Cleveland.  Subsequently  accepting  a position  with  the 
Chesapeake  and  Ohio  Railway  Company,  he  clerked  for  awhile  in  its 
Cincinnati  office,  and  was  then  transferred  to  its  office  in  Richmond, 
Virginia.  Returning  from  there  to  Kenton,  Mr.  O’Neal  became  a clerk 
in  the  office  of  the  Big  Four  Railway  Company,  his  former  employers, 
and  continued  in  it  for  a time.  Desirous  then  of  embarking  in  business 
on  his  own  account,  he  abandoned  clerking  and  opened  a fruit  and  con- 
fectionery store  in  Kenton.  A year  later,  forming  a partnership  with 
his  brother,  he  was  engaged  in  mercantile  business  as  a general  merchant 
until  1893.  In  that  year  Mr.  O’Neal  established  his  present  industry, 
beginning  on  a small  scale,  and  each  year  increasing  his  operations,  until 
now  he  is  carrying  on  an  extensive  business  in  buying  and  shipping 
eggs  and  poultry  to  the  New  York  markets. 

Mr.  O’Neal  married,  in  1892,  Lillian  F.  Morris,  who  was  born, 
January  12,  1870,  at  Patterson,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  a daughter  of  Dr. 
William  H.  and  Harriet  Morris.  Her  father  was  for  many  years  an 
active  and  successful  practitioner  in  Patterson.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  O’Neal 
have  one  child,  Helen  F.  Fraternally  Mr.  O’Neal  is  a member  of 
Latham  Lodge  No.  154,  F.  & A.  M. ; of  Kenton  Council  No.  65,  R.  & S. 
M. ; of  Scioto  Chapter  No.  119,  R.  A.  M. ; and  of  Kenton  Commandery, 
No.  58,  K.  T. ; and  also  a member  of  the  Ancient  Accepted  Scottish  Rite 
Masons,  Valley  of  Toledo.  Religiously  he  is  a member  of  the  Presbv- 


AGNEW  WELSH 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


627 


terian  church,  to  which  Mrs.  O’Neal  also  belongs.  Politically  he  is 
a Republican. 

John  Quinn  is  an  old  and  venerable  citizen  of  Taylor  Creek  town- 
ship, and  has  now  retired  from  active  life.  He  was  for  many  years  a 
successful  farmer  and  stockman  of  Hardin  county  and  has  spent  most 
of  his  life  in  agricultural  pursuits.  Mr.  Quinn  is  a native  of  Logan 
county,  Ohio,  born  along  Wood  river,  October  24,  1827,  a son  of 
Michael  Quinn,  who  was  born  in  Queens  comity,  Ireland,  and  came  to 
America  during  the  war  of  1812.  After  spending  six  years  in  the 
British  service  Michael  Quinn  made  his  escape  with  others,  and  crossing 
the  river  at  Detroit,  settled  in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  where  he  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  life  on  a farm  and  died  in  1854.  He  married  Polly 
Bailey,  of  Logan  county,  who  died  in  1848.  John  Quinn  has  a brother, 
Mart,  of  Indiana,  and  a sister,  Mrs.  Kate  Chamberlain,  a widow. 

After  attending  the  public  school  and  acquiring  a very  fair  educa- 
tion, John  Quinn  assisted  his  father  in  the  work  of  the  farm,  and  at  his 
marriage  built  a small  house  on  land  adjoining  his  father’s  farm.  In 
1854  he  removed  to  Hardin  county,  and  cleared  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  acres  of  land  in  Taylor  Creek  Township.  At  first  he  built  a log 
house  and  later  built  the  comfortable  house  which  is  the  present  family 
home.  He  was  among  the  first  pioneers  of  the  township.  He  has 
earned  success  by  hard  work  and  close  economy  in  the  early  days,  and 
now  owns  several  farms,  aggregating  four  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of 
land.  Hie  did  considerable  contract  work  in  his  younger  days  and 
worked  very  hard  to  make  his  start  in  life.  At  one  time  he  owned 
seven  hundred  acres,  part  of  which  he  has  deeded  to  his  heirs.  He 
paid  special  attention  t.o  stock  raising,  which  he  found  very  profitable, 
and  by  good  management  and  keen  business  judgment  he  progressed 
very  well  after  his  start  was  made.  Since  1900  Mr.  Quinn  has  not  done 
any  active  work,  though  he  has  good  health  and  is  active  for  one  of  his 
age.  He  has  well  earned  the  rest  he  is  now  enjoying.  He  is  well 
known  throughout  the  community,  and  is  highly  respected  by  all  who 
know  him.  Politically  Mr.  Quinn  is  a Democrat,  but  is  not  bound  by 
party  ties  and  has  never  aspired  to  public  office. 

Mr.  Quinn  married  Mary  Ann  Bailey,  daughter  of  Silas  and  Harriet 
Bailey,  and  she  was  born  in  Kentucky.  After  her  parents’  deaths  she 
was  reared  by  a family  in  Bellefontaine.  Mrs.  Quinn  died  in  1902. 
To  Mr.  Quinn  and  his  wife  children  were  born  as  follows:  Mart,  who 

died  at  the  age  of  twenty-one ; Susanna,  wife  of  George  Roberts ; Nancy 
Jane,  deceased:  Harriet  Emelia,  living  at  home  with  her  father;  and  Ella, 
deceased. 

Agnew  Welsh. — A man  of  brain  and  enterprise,  Agnew  Welsh,  of 
Ada,  is  widely  known  throughout  this  section  of  Hardin  county  as  the 
owner,  editor  and  publisher  of  the  Ada  Record,  a live,  wide-awake 
newspaper,  dealing  ably  with  the  leading  events  of  the  day.  A son  of 
George  H.  Welsh,  he  was  born,  April  11,  1856,  in  Crawford  county,  Ohio, 
coming  on  the  paternal  side  of  the  house  of  excellent  Welsh  ancestry,  his 


628 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


great-grandfather,  John  Welsh,  having  been  a native  of  Wales.  His 
grandfather,  Zaehariah  Welsh,  was  born  in  Virginia,  coming  from  there 
to  Ross  county,  Ohio,  in  1807,  locating  first  near  Chill icothe.  He  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  and  in  1822  moved  to  Wyandot  county,  where  he 
remained  thirteen  years.  Migrating  then,  in  1835,  to  Crawford  county, 
he  there  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

George  Welsh  was  born  in  Ross  county,  Ohio,  but  was  brought  up 
and  educated  in  Crawford  county,  where  he  was  for  many  years  prosper- 
ously employed  as  a farmer,  and  as  a stock  raiser  and  dealer,  living  there 
until  his  death,  September  12,  1903.  He  married  Margaret  J.  Agnew, 
who  was  born  in  Mount  Vernon,  Knox  county,  Ohio,  which  was  also  the 
birthplace  of  her  father,  David  Agnew,  Jr.,  whose  birth  occurred  in  1802. 
Her  grandfather,  David  Agnew,  Sr.,  a Scotchman,  served  as  a soldier  in 
the  Revolutionary  war,  and  after  leaving  the  army  lived  for  awhile  near 
Washington,  Pennsylvania,  from  there  coming  to  Ohio,  and  locating  at 
Mount  Vernon.  The  union  of  George  Welsh  with  Margaret  J.  Agnew 
was  solemnized  May  29,  1855,  and  on  April  18,  1856,  after  a brief  but 
happy  wedded  life,  she  died,  leaving  one  son,  Agnew  Welsh,  of  whom  we 
write. 

Spending  his  boyhood  days  in  Crawford  county,  Agnew  Welsh  there 
acquired  his  rudimentary  education,  and  in  the  spring  of  1875  entered 
the  Mount  Union  College.  In  August,  1875,  he  came  to  Ada,  and  the 
following  two  and  a half  years  attended  the  Ohio  Northern  University. 
He  subsequently  clerked  in  a clothing  establishment  for  a year,  when, 
having  become  familiar  with  the  details  of  mercantile  pursuits,  he  bought 
out  the  book  store  of  J.  II.  Kemerer,  and  managed  it  successfully  until 
the  summer  of  1881,  when  his  store  and  stock  was  destroyed  by  the  dis- 
astrous fire  that  visited  Ada.  Mr.  Welsh  then  bought,  from  E.  L. 
Millar,  the  Ada  Record,  which  he  has  since  edited  and  published.  It  is 
a bright,  newsy  paper,  with  a circulation  amounting  to  twelve  hundred, 
and  each  issue  receives  a warm  welcome  from  his  numerous  patrons. 
Mr.  Welsh  also  has  a well-equipped  job  office,  and  carries  on  an  excellent 
printing  business,  keeping  busily  employed. 

Mr.  Welsh  married,  July  8,  1880,  Cora  E.  Houfstater,  who  was  born 
in  Huron  county,  Ohio,  a daughter  of  J.  P.  and  Lorena  Houfstater. 
Two  sons  and  three  daughters  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Welsh, 
namely:  Earl  B.,  of  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania;  Dana  E.,  in  business  in 
Ada;  Rhea  M.,  a teacher  in  the  public  schools  of  Ada;  Opal  M.,  a student 
in  the  University;  and  Margaret  A.,  a freshman  in  the  Ada  high  school. 
Prominent  in  public  matters,  Mr.  Welch  has  served  as  a member  of  the 
local  school  board  since  1892,  and  has  been  both  village  and  township 
clerk.  He  has  been  often  urged  to  accept  other  official  positions,  but 
has  invariably  refused.  Fraternally  he  is  a member  of  the  Ancient 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons ; of  the  Knights  of  Maccabees ; and  of  the 
Order  of  the  Eastern  Star.  Religiously  Mr.  Welsh  is  a trustworthy 
and  valued  member  of  the  Christian  church. 

Tiiaddeus  Carr,  one  of  Taylor  Creek  township’s  representative 
farmers  and  stockmen,  has  lived  on  the  homestead  which  he  now  occupies 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


629 


throughout  his  entire  life,  and  he  was  born  there  on  the  11th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1873.  Thornton  Washington  Carr,  his  father,  born  in  Westmore- 
land county,  Virginia,  January  31,  1815,  moved  with  his  parents  to 
Pennsylvania  when  a lad  of  nine  years,  later  coming  with  them  to 
Franklin  county,  Ohio,  and  finally,  in  1872,  to  Hardin  county.  His 
father,  John  Carr,  was  a soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  his  mother  was 
nee  Rachel  Reynolds,  who  died  about  the  year  of  1855.  On  coming  to 
Hardin  county  the  family  took  up  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land, 
only  three  acres  of  which  were  partially  cleared,  and  the  place  contained 
a small  cabin.  There  the  parents  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives. 

Thornton  W.  Carr,  their  son,  after  he  had  established  his  parents  on 
this  Hardin  county  farm,  left  for  Wisconsin  and  the  western  states, 
where  he  worked  for  two  years  in  the  lumber  camps  and  thus  secured 
the  money  which  paid  for  the  land  he  had  homesteaded.  He  then 
returned  to  the  parental  home,  but  in  1854  he  again  left  it  to  engage  in 
the  grocery  business  at  Rushsylvania,  remaining  there  one  year  or  until 
his  marriage,  and  then  coming  to  the  homestead  now  the  property  of  his 
son  Thaddeus.  He  remained  here  until  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the 
5th  of  March,  1900.  He  had  attained  in  the  meantime  a high  reputa- 
tion as  a stock  raiser,  and  he  was  one  of  the  prominent  business  men  of 
his  township  and  county,  a member  of  the  Disciple  church  and  an  efficient 
and  active  local  worker  in  the  ranks  of  the  Republican  party.  His  first 
presidential  vote  was  cast  for  General  Jackson.  Lydia  A.  Howell,  who 
became  Mr.  Carr ’s  wife,  yet  survives  her  husband  and  is  living  in  Hardin 
county  with  her  son  Thaddeus.  She  was  born  in  February  of  1834,  a 
daughter  of  Henry  Holsey  and  Mary  (Tidd)  Ilowell,  the  father  born  in 
1802,  becoming  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Logan  county,  and  the 
mother  was  born  in  October  of  1S07.  Mrs.  Carr  has  two  living  sons, 
Thaddeus  and  Calvin,  and  the  latter  is  a stockman  and  shipper  at  Ken- 
ton. One  son  Robert  H.,  was  killed  June  5,  1902,  by  being  thrown 
from  a horse.  He  was  born  in  1857.  A daughter,  Mary  F.,  born 
March  5,  1859,  married  Judson  Roberts,  December  11,  1877,  and  died 
January  29,  1879. 

After  putting  aside  his  text  books  at  the  age  of  sixteen  Thaddeus 
Carr  worked  on  the  parental  farm,  and  after  his  father  met  with  the 
accident  which  made  him  a cripple  during  the  latter  part  of  his  life,  he 
being  the  only  son  at  home  took  charge  of  the  farm,  and  he  has  ever 
since  made  a home  for  his  mother.  He  is  extensively  engaged  in  both 
farming  and  stock  raising,  being  a large  breeder  of  sheep,  hogs,  cattle 
and  horses.  He  is  at  the  present  time  serving  liis  second  term  as  a 
member  of  the  board  of  trustees  for  Taylor  Creek  township,  and  he  is 
one  of  his  community’s  active  public  workers. 

In  1894  Mr.  Carr  was  married  to  Alferetta  Ewing,  who  was  born 
October  18,  1870,  in  Taylor  Creek  township,  Hardin  county,  a daughter 
of  Robert  Irvin  Ewing,  who  was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania, 
January  26,  1835,  and  he  died  in  Taylor  Creek  township,  Hardin  county, 
March  10,  1898,  when  sixty-three  years  of  age.  He  was  a son  of  James 
F.  and  Elizabeth  (Fleming)  Ewing,  from  Pennsylvania.  Robert  I. 
Ewing  came  to  Logan  county,  Ohio,  in  1853,  remaining  there  until  1858, 


630 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


when  he  went  to  Missouri,  and  while  in  that  state  enlisted  in  Carroll 
county  in  1861  in  Company  G,  Eighteenth  Missouri  Volunteer  Infantry, 
for  service  in  the  Civil  war,  and  his  term  expiring  in  1864  he  reenlisted 
and  was  made  the  sergeant  of  his  company.  He  was  mustered  out  at 
Louisville,  Kentucky,  in  1865,  and  in  the  following  year  of  1866  he  came 
to  Silver  Creek  in  Taylor  Creek  township,  Hardin  county,  and  was 
thereafter  engaged  in  a mercantile  business  there  until  the  time  of  his 
death.  He  was  also  during  a number  of  yeai’s  the  postmaster  of  his 
town.  Mrs.  Orilla  J.  Stevenson  became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Ewing,  and  she 
was  a daughter  of  Isaac  and  Elizabeth  (Jewell)  Harris,  Logan  county 
farmers.  Isaac  Harris  was  one  of  the  pioneer  members  of  the  Odd 
Fellows  lodge  at  Belle  Center,  Ohio.  Their  children,  not  including  Mrs. 
Carr,  are  as  follows:  Stevenson,  living  in  the  state  of  Washington; 

Marvin  Glenn,  of  Castle  Rock,  Washington;  LeRoy,  a farmer  near 
Kenton ; Desmoine,  living  in  Taylor  Creek  township ; and  Nettie,  the 
wife  of  Robert  Sieg,  of  Union  county,  Ohio.  The  children  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Carr  are:  Thornton  W.,  born  June  2,  1898;  Robert  J.  and 

Carl  M.,  twins,  born  June  20,  1902;  Thaddeus,  born  November  18,  1904; 
and  Katheryn,  born  October  2,  1906.  Mrs.  Carr  is  a member  of  the 
United  Presbyterian  church. 

Mrs.  Eliza  Sloan,  widow  of  Thomas  Sloan,  of  Taylor  Creek  town- 
ship, Hardin  county,  was  born  in  May,  1836,  in  county  Monaghan, 
Ireland,  and  is  a daughter  of  John  and  Eliza  (Wiley)  Sloan.  John 
Sloan,  who  died  in  1866,  was  a son  of  James  and  Letta  (Gilson)  Sloan, 
and  his  wife  was  a daughter  of  Thomas  and  Mary  Ann  (Scroggy)  Wiley. 

Eliza  Sloan  married  Thomas  Sloan  in  Ireland,  March  22,  1852.  He 
was  born  in  Ireland,  June  20,  1820,  and  died  in  Taylor  Creek  township, 
Hardin  county,  Ohio,  February  29,  1880.  He  was  a son  of  John  Sloan, 
of  the  same  county  in  Ireland  as  John  (father  of  Eliza)  Sloan.  The 
former  married  Sarah  McClellan,  also  of  Ireland.  Thomas  Sloan 
accompanied  his  parents  to  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  in  1833,  when  he  was 
thirteen  years  of  age.  They  located  near  the  old  Sloan  cemetery,  which 
was  located  on  land  donated  by  the  family  for  a cemetery,  and  John 
Sloan’s  wife  was  the  first  person  buried  there.  They  took  up  one 
hundred  and  twenty-three  acres  of  land  and  built  a small  log  house.  Mr. 
Sloan  died  there  April  1,  1864,  at  the  age  of  ninety-seven  years,  and  his 
widow  died  at  the  age  of  forty-seven  years. 

Thomas  Sloan  remained  with  his  parents  until  his  majority,  and 
then  for  three  years  worked  on  a boat  on  Lake  Erie.  Returning  to 
Hardin  county,  he  found  employment  as  foreman  in  the  construction  of 
the  Mad  River  Railroad,  now  the  Big  Four,  between  Kenton  and  Hunts- 
ville. In  1851  he  made  a visit  to  Ireland  and  there  met  his  future  wife, 
being  married  the  next  year.  The  young  couple  took  passage  for 
America  in  the  City  of  Manchester,  spending  four  weeks  on  the  trip. 
They  located  on  the  land  where  Mrs.  Sloan  now  resides,  owning  first 
one  hundred  and  eighty  acres.  Later  they  added  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  and  built  a frame  house  which  is  still  on  the  premises.  The 
present  home  was  erected  in  1872,  and  is  a comfortable,  commodious 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


631 


dwelling,  one  of  the  most  substantial  in  the  section.  Mr.  Sloan  cleared 
most  of  his  farm  himself  and  became  very  successful.  He  made  all 
possible  improvements  and  made  a specialty  of  stock  raising.  He  was 
an  enterprising,  ambitious  man  and  well  deserved  success.  He  became 
a useful,  public-spirited  citizen,  and  had  a multitude  of  friends.  He 
was  a member  of  the  Reformed  Presbyterian  church  and  served  many 
years  as  elder.  Politically  he  was  a Republican  and  active  in  the 
interests  of  his  party.  Mr.  Sloan  was  always  ready  to  give  his  support 
to  any  worthy  cause  and  was  liberal  in  his  financial  support  to  various 
churches  in  the  vicinity  of  his  home.  He  was  a good  neighbor  and  had 
many  warm  personal  friends.  He  was  familiarly  known  as  “old  Tom 
Sloan,”  and  his  neighbors  and  associates  knew  if  called  upon  he  would 
give  them  substantial  aid  and  help  them  over  difficulties.  His  widow 
carries  out  his  policy  of  lending  help  to  such  objects  as  appeal  to  her 
sympathy  and  good  judgment,  and  has  accomplished  a great  deal  of  good 
on  her  own  account.  She  was  one  of  eight  children,  two  of  whom  still 
live  in  Ireland.  She  is  a member  of  the  Reformed  Presbyterian  church 
of  Bell  Center  and  actively  interested  in  its  welfare.  She  is  the  only 
one  left  of  the  pioneer  Sloan  family,  and  has  witnessed  many  changes 
and  improvements  in  the  vicinity  of  her  home.  In  1875  she  and  her 
brother  John  made  a visit  to  their  native  country  of  three  months. 

To  Thomas  Sloan  and  his  wife  children  were  born  as  follows : John 
James,  of  Marion,  married  May  Walters,  and  they  have  two  children, 
Thomas  Walter  and  Henrietta,  the  former  of  whom  married  Lulu  B. 
Bland;  Eliza  Ann,  married  John  Sloan,  of  Toronto,  Canada,  and  they 
have  no  children ; Robert  Samuel,  of  Oklahoma,  married  Dell  A.  Rogers, 
and  they  have  no  children ; Letitia  married  Charles  Wharton  of  Kenton, 
and  they  have  three  children,  Eliza,  Russel  and  Frances ; Sarah  Frances, 
deceased;  William  McClellan,  a farmer  of  Taylor  Creek  township; 
Thomas  Henry,  a farmer  of  Taylor  Creek  township,  married  Agnes 
Richards  and  they  have  one  child,  Ann  Isabel ; and  Emily  Jane,  deceased, 
was  the  wife  of  George  Fink;  David,  deceased;  Margaret  Isabel,  widow 
of  Burton  Wilson,  living  with  her  mother;  and  George  J.,  who  married 
Grace  Davis  West,  and  is  a farmer  in  Hardin  county. 

William  McClellan  Sloan  was  born  March  15,  1862,  on  the  family 
homestead,  and  after  his  marriage  bought  one  hundred  and  forty-two 
acres  of  the  home  farm,  which  contained  from  six  hundred  to  seven 
hundred  acres.  At  the  death  of  Thomas  Sloan  the  farm  was  divided 
among  his  children  who  survived.  William  M.  Sloan  has  followed 
farming  all  his  life  and  has  made  a scientific  study  of  modern  methods. 
He  makes  a specialty  of  high-grade  cattle  and  horses.  He  married 
Jenny  Skillman,  daughter  of  Martin  and  Mary  (Floyd)  Skillman,  who 
were  formerly  residents  of  Hamilton  county,  Ohio.  Mr.  Sloan  and  his 
wife  have  one  child,  David.  He  is  a member  of  the  United  Presbyterian 
church  of  Belle  Center.  Politically  he  is  a Republican  and  actively 
interested  in  local  affairs.  Tie  served  one  term  as  township  trustee. 
He  is  a progressive  and  enterprising  citizen,  and  highly  esteemed. 


632 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


John  D.  Fitzpatrick  represents  one  of  the  old  and  well  known 
families  of  Hardin  county,  one  that  has  resided  within  its  borders  for 
many  years,  and  he  himself  is  one  of  Taylor  Creek  township’s  substan- 
tial agriculturists  and  business  men  and  its  present  constable.  He  was 
born  at  the  old  homestead  in  Taylor  Creek  township,  May  6,  1883,  and 
his  ancestry  is  found  in  the  sketch  of  his  father,  George  W.  Fitzpatrick, 
on  other  pages  of  this  work. 

After  leaving  school  at  the  age  of  seventeen  John  D.  Fitzpatrick 
farmed  with  his  father  until  his  marriage,  and  he  then  came  to  his 
present  homestead  in  Taylor  Creek  township,  where  he  is  well  and 
prominently  known  as  a general  farmer  and  stock  raiser.  In  1907  he 
was  elected  by  the  Democratic  party  as  the  constable  of  his  township, 
and  he  is  now  serving  his  second  term  in  that  office.  On  the  21st  of 
December,  1904,  he  was  married  to  Hattie  Greentree,  who  was  born  in 
McDonald  township  of  Hardin  county  on  the  19th  of  August,  1885,  a 
daughter  of  G.  W.  and  Melvina  (Broughman)  Greentree,  both  of  whom 
are  living,  the  father  being  forty-six  and  the  mother  forty-five  years  of 
age.  The  paternal  grandfather  was  Alexander  Greentree.  The  child- 
ren of  G.  W.  and  Melvina  Greentree,  not  including  Mrs.  Fitzpatrick, 
are : Estella,  the  wife  of  Thomas  Campbell,  of  Roundhead  town- 

ship ; Mary,  wife  of  J.  A.  Reed,  of  the  same  township ; Anna,  wife  of 
Denny  Stout,  of  Belle  Center;  and  John  and  Martha,  at  home  with 
their  parents.  Two  sons  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fitzpatrick, 
William  Earl,  on  the  24th  of  July,  1906,  and  John  L.,  on  the  2d  of 
August,  1908.  Mr.  Fitzpatrick  has  fraternal  relations  with  the  Masonic 
order,  affiliating  with  lodge  No.  347  at  Belle  Center,  and  he  is  one  of 
the  Democratic  leaders  of  his  community. 

Hamilton  E.  IToge. — A man  of  strong  personality,  energetic  and 
capable,  Hamilton  E.  IToge  holds  a noteworthy  position  among  the  lead- 
ing citizens  of  Kenton,  where  he  is  actively  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
law,  and  is  serving  as  president  of  the  First  National  Bank.  A son  of 
the  Hon.  S.  L.  Hoge,  he  was  born,  February  10,  1868,  in  Charleston, 
South  Carolina,  but  was  brought  up  in  the  north. 

Coming  with  his  parents  to  Kenton,  Ohio,  at  the  age  of  nine  years, 
Hamilton  E.  Hoge  was  here  partly  educated,  attending  first  the  public 
schools  and  later  Kenyon  College.  Ambitious  to  enter  the  legal  fra- 
ternity, he  subsequently  began  the  study  of  law  at  the  Cincinnati  Law 
School,  from  which  he  was  graduated  with  the  class  of  1890.  Immedi- 
ately beginning  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Kenton,  he  has  met  with 
well  deserved  success,  and  is  now  carrying  on  a remunerative  business 
as  junior  member  of  the  well-known  law  firm  of  Smick  & Hoge.  He 
possesses  much  financial  as  well  as  legal  knowledge  and  ability,  and  in 
February,  1909,  on  the  death  of  his  father,  was  elected  president  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Kenton. 

Mr.  Hoge  married,  on  August  18,  1897,  Minnie  E.  Schindewolf, 
daughter  of  Theodore  Schindewolf,  of  Kenton,  and  of  their  union  two 
children  have  been  born,  namely:  Virginia  and  Marian.  Fraternally 

Mr.  Hoge  is  a member  of  Kenton  Lodge,  No.  157,  Benevolent  and  Pro- 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


633 


tective  Order  of  Elks;  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America;  and  of  the 
college  fraternity  Delta  Kappa  Epsilon.  Taking  an  active  part  in 
public  affairs  and  political  matters,  Mr.  Hoge  is  a member  of  the 
executive  committee  of  the  Republican  party  of  Hardin  county,  and  its 
ex-chairman,  and  for  six  years,  from  1903  until  1909,  was  prosecuting 
attorney  of  Hardin  county. 

George  W.  Fitzpatrick  is  one  of  the  venerable  and  honored 
residents  of  Hardin  county,  where  he  has  made  his  home  for  many  years 
and  in  all  this  time  he  has  been  one  of  its  prominent  agriculturists. 
He  was  born  in  Virginia  on  the  10th  of  August,  1836,  whither  his  father 
Ferrell  Fitzpatrick,  had  settled  on  coming  from  the  north  of  Ireland, 
the  place  of  his  nativity,  when  a young  man  of  twenty-one,  locating 
in  Rockridge  county.  He  married  Sarah  Black,  a daughter  of  George 
Black,  an  English  family,  and  she  died  in  1852,  at  the  age  of  fifty  years, 
surviving  her  husband,  who  was  forty-eight  at  the  time  of  his  death. 
He  was  a stone  mason  by  trade.  Their  children,  in  addition  to  their 
son  George,  were : James  B.,  a Methodist  Episcopal  minister,  who  died 
in  Mississippi ; Martha  and  Elizabeth,  whose  first  husbands  both  died  in 
the  Confederate  service  during  the  Civil  war,  and  Elizabeth  subsequent- 
ly wedded  a Mr.  J.  Clark,  of  Virginia,  and  Martha  married  for  her 
second  husband  W.  Hardington;  John  Fitzpatrick,  the  third  child, 
served  as  captain  of  a company  of  infantry  from  Rockbridge  county, 
Virginia,  during  the  Civil  war;  and  William  Fitzpatrick,  of  Xenia, 
Greene  county,  Ohio. 

After  leaving  school  at  the  age  of  sixteen  George  W.  Fitzpatrick 
spent  two  years  in  farming  in  Fayette  county,  West  Virginia,  and  then 
with  his  employer  he  went  to  Greenbrier  county  in  that  state  and  spent 
the  following  two  years,  was  then  again  in  Fayette  county  one  year, 
engaged  in  farming,  and  this  brought  him  to  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil 
war.  But- he  did  not  espouse  the  cause  of  the  south,  as  did  his  people, 
instead  he  came  to  Hardin  county  and  enlisted  from  Columbus  in  1863 
in  Company  I,  Forty-fifth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  under  the  command 
of  Captain  Rarey,  and  he  was  with  his  captain  when  the  latter  was 
wounded  and  fell  at  his  side.  Mr.  Fitzpatrick  remained  with  his 
regiment  until  it  was  mustered  out  of  service,  and  he  was  then  trans- 
ferred to  Company  I,  Fifty-first  Ohio,  which  was  later  sent  via  New 
Orleans  to  Iudianola,  Texas,  thence  to  Green  Lake,  that  state,  and  they 
were  mustered  out  at  Victoria,  Texas.  He  was  captured  after  the  fall 
of  Atlanta  in  1864  and  was  confined  two  weeks  in  prison  at  Macon, 
Georgia,  and  at  Camp  Lawton  forty  days,  and  was  then  exchanged.  He 
proved  a true  and  gallant  defender  of  the  Union,  although  to  do  this 
he  fought  against  the  land  of  his  birth  and  against  his  own  brothers, 
who  had  espoused  the  cause  of  the  southland.  Returning  to  the  north 
via  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  the  Mississippi  river  he  located  in  Hardin 
county  and  bought  fifty-one  acres  of  land  near  Silver  Creek,  where  his 
first  home  was  a little  log  cabin  which  he  built  and  which  is  still  stand- 
ing, and  there  too  he  raised  his  family  of  children.  With  the  passing 
years  he  has  added  to  his  original  purchase  until  his  estate  now  contains  ' 


634 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


one  hundred  and  seventy-five  acres,  and  this  is  now  one  of  the  best 
improved  and  most  modern  farms  in  the  township.  He  has  during  the 
past  many  years  been  extensively  engaged  in  raising  and  shipping  stock 
in  addition  to  his  general  farming,  but  he  is  now  living  retired  and  the 
work  of  the  place  is  carried  on  by  his  two  sons. 

Mr.  Fitzpatrick  was  married  in  1869,  on  the  11th  of  November,  to 
Emily  P.  Fleece,  who  was  born  in  Morgan  county,  Virginia,  January  29, 
1853,  a daughter  of  Joseph  and  Rachel  (Dyke)  Fleece.  Joseph  D. 
Fleece,  who  became  a farmer  and  blacksmith,  was  born  on  the  same 
homestead  in  Morgan  county  as  was  his  daughter,  and  there  too  occurred 
the  birth  of  John  Fleece,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Fitzpatrick.  The 
latter’s  wife  was  Mary  Flynn.  Joseph  D.  Fleece,  came  to  Hardin 
county,  Ohio,  in  1864,  settling  on  a farm  near  Silver  Creek,  but  his 
death  occurred  in  McDonald  township,  whither  he  subsequently  moved, 
November  1,  1899,  when  seventy-one  years  of  age.  His  wife,  nee 
Rachel  Dycke,  died  on  the  8th  of  November  of  the  same  year,  when 
sixty-five  years  of  age.  Mrs.  Fitzpatrick  has  two  brothers  living, 
Albert  and  Charles,  both  farming  in  McDonald  township.  The  fol- 
lowing children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fitzpatrick : Ferrill, 

born  in  1871,  married  Mary  Ewing,  by  whom  lie  has  eight  children,  and 
he  is  a farmer  in  Taylor  Creek  township ; Florence,  born  in  1873,  is  the 
wife  of  Howard  Vermillion,  of  Roundhead,  and  they  have  six  children; 
Mary,  deceased;  Joseph,  born  in  1878,  and  now  a Taylor  Creek  township 
farmer,  married  Emily  Sherman  and  they  have  one  child;  William  C., 
born  in  1880,  is  living  in  Tacoma,  Washington ; John,  born  in  1883,  and 
now  a,  business  man  in  Taylor  Creek  township,  married  Hattie  Greentree, 
and  they  have  two  children ; and  Elizabeth,  born  in  1885,  Randolph,  in 
1888,  and  Catherine,  in  1890,  all  at  the  parental  home.  The  family  are 
members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church  at  Silver  Creek. 

Samuel  Epley  is  a representative  of  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of 
Hardin  county,  Ohio.  His  parents,  George  J.  and  Barbara  (Wooster) 
Epley,  natives  of  Germany,  came  to  America  some  time  previous  to  1829, 
and  stopped  first  at  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania.  There,  for  a short 
time,  the  father  worked  at  his  trade,  that  of  shoemaker.  Soon  the  in- 
ducements offered  by  the  Western  Reserve  attracted  him  to  Ohio;  he 
bought  and  sold  a farm  in  Stark  county,  from  Stark  county  he  moved 
to  Fairfield  county,  and  in  1859  he  came  to  Hardin  county.  Here  he 
bought  a hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land,,  upon  which  Ada  is  now  built, 
this  part  of  the  country  being  then  a wilderness.  And  here  he  and  his 
good  wife  endured  the  many  hardships  incident  to  life  on  the  frontier, 
and  also  they  enjoyed  the  advantages  and  opportunities  which  were 
offered  for  the  development  of  a home  and  provision  for  their  family. 
They  had  eleven  children,  whose  names  in  order  of  birth  are  as  follows: 
Mary,  Elizabeth,  Louis,  John,  George,  Barbara,  Catherine,  Martin, 
Samuel,  Jacob  and  Solomon.  The  mother  died  in  1849,  the  father  in 
1893,  at  a ripe  old  age. 

Samuel  Epley  was  born,  in  1839,  in  Fairfield  county,  where  he  was 
reared  and  educated.  He  was  just  emerging  from  his  teens  and  was 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


635 


still  a member  of  the  home  circle  when  the  family  settled  in  Hardin 
county,  as  above  stated.  When  he  was  twenty-three  he  purchased  a 
farm  of  eighty-acres  in  Liberty  township,  virgin  soil,  which  he  improved 
and  sold  at  a profit.  Subsequently  he  bought  and  sold  other  farms, 
always  realizing  a good  return  for  the  money  and  labor  expended.  His 
present  place  comprises  one  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  choice  land,  well 
improved  and  classed  as  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  Liberty  township. 
His  house  and  farm  buildings  are  commodious  and  convenient.  He 
uses  the  most  modern  methods  and  machinery,  and  he  gives  his  personal 
time  and  attention  to  the  care  of  his  crops — in  short,  he  is  what  may  be 
termed  a practical  and  successful  farmer. 

On  March  3,  1863,  Mr.  Epley  married  Miss  Caroline,  daughter  of 
Nicholas  and  Barbara  Heigh,  and  two  children  were  born  to  them,  both 
now  married : Mrs.  Ida  Bowers  and  Mrs.  Daisy  Carey.  Mrs.  Epley 

was  born  in  Hardin  county  in  1841,  and  died  in  1904.  While  in  no  sense 
a politician  or  a public  man,  Mr. Epley  has  always  taken  a deep  interest 
in  various  enterprises  that  have  tended  to  promote  the  welfare  of  his 
township  and  county,  lending  both  his  influence  and  substantial  aid 
whenever  he  could  help  along  a worthy  cause.  When  the  university 
was  started  at  Ada  he  was  one  of  its  first  stockholders. 

Mrs.  Nancy  Ann  Windle,  widow  of  John  H.  Windle,  of  Taylor 
Creek  township,  was  born  in  Maryland  August  14,  1835.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  John  Halina,  a native  of  Germany,  who  died  in  1862,  at  the 
age  of  seventy  years.  His  wife,  Margaret  (Vermond)  Halina,  died  in 
1860,  at  the  age  of  fifty-six.  They  came  to  Ohio  with  their  four  chil- 
dren, and  after  his  wife’s  death  Mr.  Halina  moved  west  and  settled 
near  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  where  he  died. 

The  childhood  of  Nancy  A.  Halina  was  spent  in  Maryland  and  in 
1855  she  married  John  H.  Windle.  of  Virginia,  born  in  1832,  in  that 
state,  a son  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  (Keller)  Windle.  After  their 
marriage  they  lived  four  years  in  Virginia,  engaged  in  farming,  then 
lived  two  years  near  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  a short  time  in  Marion  county. 
Later  they  located  near  Kenton,  in  Hardin  county,  where  in  June,  1875, 
they  bought  the  present  farm  of  seventy-five  acres.  Here  Mr.  Windle 
died  and  his  widow  has  since  resided  on  the  farm,  which  is  now  managed 
by  her  son. 

Mr.  Windle  enlisted  for  one  hundred  days’  service  in  the  Union 
army.  He  began  farming  in  Franklin  county  and  from  there  moved 
to  Hardin  county  where  he  died  in  1873.  Mrs.  Windle  has  brothers 
and  sisters  as  follows : Sarah,  wife  of  J.  Stark,  a farmer  of  McLean 

county,  Illinois;  Mary,  widow  of  a Mr.  Jones,  an  officer  in  the  Civil  war, 
killed  during  his  service;  and  John,  of  Stanford,  Illinois.  Mrs.  Windle 
is  a member  of  the  Methodist  church  and  active  in  church  work.  She 
is  one  of  the  most  highly  esteemed  residents  of  the  community  and  has  a 
wide  circle  of  friends. 

The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Windle  are  as  follows:  Samuel, 
deceased;  Catherine,  wife  of  S.  Swartz,  of  Kenton,  has  five  children; 
Mary,  wife  of  James  Wells,  of  Kenton;  John  and  George,  twins,  de- 


636 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


ceased;  William  Id.,  who  carried  on  the  farm  which  he  bought  in  1899, 
married  Ida  B.  Fenton ; Anna,  wife  of  Charles  Bishop,  of  Crawford 
county,  Ohio,  has  three  children,  Mary,  Joseph  and  William,  the  last 
named  married  to  Ethel  Teets.  Mr.  Swartz  and  his  wife  have  two 
children  who  are  married,  Burton,  who  married  Flora  Hanna  and  has 
one  child,  and  Milla,  wife  of  J.  Frey,  has  two  children. 

William  Windle,  who  owns  the  farm  and  with  whom  his  mother 
lives,  is  a prosperous  farmer,  dairyman  and  stock  raiser.  He  has  some 
thirty  head  of  cattle  and  considerable  other  stock.  Mr.  Windle  is  an 
enterprising,  up-to-date  farmer,  and  is  very  successful.  His  wife’s 
father  died  when  she  was  two  years  of  age,  and  she  was  reared  by  J.  R. 
Miller,  of  Kenton,  with  whom  she  lived  until  her  marriage.  She  has 
one  sister,  Angeline,  wife  of  M.  Miller.  Her  mother  was  Harriet 
(Collins)  Fenton.  Mr.  Windle  and  his  wife  became  the  parents  of 
eight  children,  namely:  Paul  E.,  Marian  J.,  Anna  B.,  Roy  W.,  Clyde  V., 
Cecil  T.,  John  R.  and  Grace.  Politically  Mr.  Windle  is  a Democrat, 
and  the  family  attend  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Sugar  Creek, 
Ohio. 


William  M.  Dunson,  a prosperous  farmer  of  Dudley  township, 
Hardin  county,  was  born  in  the  county,  in  Hale  township,  April  16, 
1863.  lie  is  a son  of  Louis  and  Margaret  (Plew)  Dunson.  Louis 
Dunson,  born  in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  in  1822,  was  a son  of  Thomas 
Dunson,  who  was  born  in  1802,  and  was  the  first  of  the  family  to  locate 
in  Hardin  county.  He  settled  in  Hale  township,  at  what  was  then 
called  Grassy  Point,  in  1810,  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  clearing 
and  improving  his  farm.  He  became  the  owner  of  one  hundred  acres. 
He  married  Beulah  Patrick,  a native  of  Virginia ; he  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy-two  years.  He  Avas  a.  member  of  the  Christian  church.  Thomas 
Dunson  served  in  the  war  of  1812  and  hauled  provisions  as  a mere  boy. 
He  moved  from  Virginia  to  Logan  county,  Ohio.  He  married  Miss 
Cushing  and  both  died  in  Hale  township,  Hardin  county,  on  his  farm. 

After  attending  the  district  schools  until  he  was  a young  man, 
Louis  Dunson  worked  on  his  father’s  farm  until  his  marriage  and  then 
located  in  North  Washington.  Later  he  purchased  the  old  Doby  farm 
in  Hale  township,  which  he  sold  in  1863  and  bought  another  farm  in  the 
same  township.  In  1865  he  located  in  Buck  township,  where  he  carried 
on  farming  until  a feAV  years  before  his  death,  then  retiring  to  Mt. 
Victory,  where  he  died  in  May,  1897.  He  was  a prominent  man  and  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in 
Company  F.  Thirteenth  Ohio,  and  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Stone 
River  by  a gunshot  in  his  knee.  He  was  discharged,  and  returned 
home  February  20,  1863.  He  belonged  to  the  Grand  Army  of  the 

Republic  of  Mt.  Victory.  lie  was  a successful  farmer  and  made  a 

specialty  of  breeding  Poland  China  hogs.  He  married,  in  1849, 
Margaret,  daughter  of  William  and  Mary  (Kelly)  Plew,  and  they  had 
children  as  follows : Beulah,  wife  of  J.  W.  Thompson,  of  Kenton,  Ohio ; 
John,  of  Hepburn;  Benniah,  a carpenter  of  Kenton;  Thomas,  of  Idaho; 
Alice,  wife  of  J.  Plattner;  William  M. ; Cora,  wife  of  W.  Hastings;  and 
Rush,  of  Defiance,  Ohio. 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


637 


After  reaching  his  majority,  William  M.  Dunson  helped  his  father 
on  the  farm  one  year  and  then  followed  the  trade  of  carpenter  ten 
years  in  Hale  township.  He  then  removed  to  Hepburn  and  spent 
eleven  years  at  his  trade  and  working  on  the  railroad,  and  during  that 
time  also  carried  on  a farm  near  Mt.  Victory.  In  1897  he  sold  this 
farm  and  bought  his  present  farm  of  fifty-nine  acres,  where  he  makes  a 
specialty  of  cattle,  sheep  and  hog  raising.  He  also  owns  some  property 
in  Hepburn.  He  owns  one  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  land  in 
Lawrence  county.  Kentucky,  where  he  spent  one  year  about  1904  and 
which  he  now  rents.  He  is  a member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  also 
of  the  Grange.  Though  taking  an  interest  in  public  affairs  he  does  not 
take  any  active  part  in  political  matters,  spending  his  whole  time  in 
carrying  on  his  farm  and  caring  for  his  business  interests. 

On  April  15,  1888,  Mr.  Dunson  married  Sarah  A.  Pickett,  born  in 
1858,  a daughter  of  Peter  J.  and  Hannah  (McFadden)  Pickett,  natives 
of  Muskingum  county.  Kir.  Pickett  came  from  Belmont  county,  Ohio, 
to  Hardin  county.  He  died  in  1860,  at  the  age  of  thirty-two  years, 
having  been  born  April  13,  1828.  Mrs.  Pickett  was  the  daughter  of 
Robert  and  Nancy  (Barrett)  McFadden.  natives  of  Belmont  county. 
She  died  in  1863,  at  the  age  of  thirty-four,  leaving  four  children,  Mrs. 
Dunson  being  then  five  years  of  age.  Her  brothers  are  Marian,  a 
farmer;  William,  of  Dunkirk,  Ohio;  and  James,  of  Fullerton,  California. 
Mrs.  Dunson,  at  the  death  of  her  mother,  was  adopted  by  Joshua  and 
Elizabeth  (Hopkins)  Cope.  He  was  born  December  12,  1813,  and  died 
in  1902.  His  wife,  a native  of  Pickaway,  Ohio,  daughter  of  Robert  and 
Nancy  (Veney)  Hopkins,  was  born  February  26,  1817,  and  died  in  1885. 
Mr.  Cope  came  to  Hardin  county  in  1832 ; he  was  a son  of  Joshua  and 
Isabella  (McCrea)  Cope.  Mrs.  Dunson  attended  the  public  schools 
until  eighteen  years  of  age  and  later  attended  Ada  University.  She 
taught  school  seven  years  and  then  kept  house  for  her  foster-father 
after  his  wife’s  death.  Her  younger  brother  also  lived  with  Mr.  Cope 
and  his  wife.  Mr.  Cope  raised,  or  partly  raised,  nineteen  children, 
including  all  of  Mrs.  Dunson ’s  brothers  and  herself. 

Mr.  Dunson  and  his  wife  had  children  as  follows : Lewis  H.,  born 
in  1888,  an  architect  living  in  California ; George  A.,  born  March  11, 
1890,  attending  high  school  in  Kenton ; Mildred  May,  born  in  1892, 
attending  school  in  Kenton ; Orpha,  born  February  21,  1896,  also  attend- 
ing school  in  Kenton ; Beulah  Alice,  born  March  23,  1899 ; and  John 
William,  born  April  19,  1901.  Mr.  Dunson  is  a very  successful  farmer 
and  is  well  known  throughout  the  community.  He  is  honest  and 
upright,  and  his  probity  and  good  principles  are  unquestioned. 


Charles  A.  Guider. — In  the  death  of  Charles  A.  Guider,  at  his 
home  in  the  village  of  McGuffey,  on  the  29th  of  November,  1902,  there 
passed  away  one  of  the  honored  and  sterling  citizens  of  Hardin  county, 
which  had  represented  his  home  and  been  the  scene  of  his  endeavors 
during  the  major  portion  of  his  long  and  useful  life.  He  was  a man  of 
great  mechanical  genius  and  ability,  and  during  nearly  his  entire  busi- 
Vol.  11—13 


638 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


ness  career  he  was  identified  with  mechanical  enterprises,  through  the 
medium  of  which  he  attained  independence  and  prosperity.  He  served 
with  intrepid  valor  as  a soldier  of  the  Union  in  the  Civil  war,  during 
nearly  the  entire  period  of  which  he  was  stationed  with  his  regiment  in 
the  great  northwest,  where  he  assisted  in  holding  the  hostile  Indians  in 
subjection  and  also  in  other  important  military  movements.  It  is  said 
that  he  was  the  only  man  with  an  artificial  leg  who  succeeded  in  enlisting 
in  the  army  at  the  time  of  the  Civil  war,  and  this  physical  defect  was  not 
discovered  by  the  military  authorities  for  some  time  after  he  had 
entered  the  service.  The  infirmity  never  interfered  with  his  duties  as 
a soldier,  and  his  record  was  one  of  signal  gallantry.  He  was  a man  of 
unassuming  characteristics  but  his  intrinsic  integrity,  sincerity  and 
honor  were  never  questioned,  so  that  it  was  a natural  result  that  he 
should  hold  a secure  place  in  the  confidence  and  regard  of  the  people 
of  Hardin  county,  where  he  long  lived  and  labored  to  worthy  ends.  It 
is  a matter  of  gratification  to  be  able  to  present  in  this  work  a brief 
review  of  his  career. 

Charles  A.  Guider  was  born  in  the  city  of  Columbus,  Ohio,  on  the 
5th  of  November,  1837,  and  was  a son  of  Augustus  C.  and  Christena 
(Daniel)  Guider,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Schwartzburg-Rodolstadt, 
Germany,  where  the  former  was  born  in  1810  and  the  latter  in  1812. 
Both  passed  the  closing  years  of  their  lives  in  Hardin  county,  Ohio, 
where  the  mother  died  in  1852  and  the  father  in  1870.  The  paternal 
grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  memoir  was  of  Spanish  birth.  Augus- 
tus C.  Guider  came  with  his  wife  to  Ohio  in  1834,  and  in  1841  they 
removed  to  Hardin  county  and  settled  in  Washington  township,  where 
the  father  devoted  the  remainder  of  his  life  principally  to  agricultural 
pursuits.  Of  the  six  children  Charles  A.  was  the  eldest  son. 

The  educational  advantages  of  Charles  A.  Guider  in  his  boyhood  and 
youth  were  limited,  as  he  was  reared  to  maturity  in  the  pioneer  wilds  of 
Hardin  county,  but  nevertheless  succeeded  in  obtaining  a good  practical 
education  and  became  proficient  in  three  languages,  namely:  English, 
German  and  Siouxan  (Indian).  He  early  began  to  lend  his  aid  in  the 
work  of  the  home  farm  and  manifesting  from  his  boyhood  most  pro- 
nounced mechanical  ability.  As  a youth  he  made  all  the  tools  and 
implements  used  on  the  farm,  even  manufacturing  wagons  and  buggies. 
In  1858,  shortly  before  attaining  his  legal  majority,  he  secured  employ- 
ment in  the  wagon  factory  of  J.  G.  Orth,  at  Arcadia,  Hancock  county, 
and  in  November  of  the  same  year  he  went  to  Findlay,  this  state,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  same  line  of  work  and  proved  himself  a skilled  artisan. 
In  May,  1860,  he  returned  to  Washington  township,  Hardin  county, 
where  he  secured  a position  in  a saw  mill,  in  which  he  was  soon  made  head 
sawyer.  Soon  afterward  he  went  to  Indiana,  but  he  remained  only  a 
short  time.  He  returned  to  Hardin  county  and  here,  on  the  21st  of 
November,  1861,  the  accidental  overturning  of  a wagon  so  severely 
crushed  his  right  foot  and  ankle  as  to  necessitate  the  amputation  of  the 
leg  at  a point  midway  between  the  ankle  and  knee. 

To  the  average  man  such  an  infirmity  as  that  noted  would  have 
precluded  all  thought  of  going  forth  for  service  as  a soldier,  but  the 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


639 


loyalty  and  patriotism  of  Mr.  Guider  were  such  that  he  refused  to  recog- 
nize his  injury  as  a handicap,  when  the  integrity  of  the  nation  was  in 
peril  through  armed  rebellion.  Thus,  on  the  23d  of  July,  1863,  he 
enlisted  as  a private  in  a company  recruited  in  Hardin  county  for  a 
term  of  six  months.  This  company  was  sent  to  Cafnp  Dennison  at 
Columbus,  and  was  finally  disbanded,  whereupon  Mr.  Guider  and  other 
members  of  the  organization  joined  the  Eleventh  Ohio  Volunteer 
Cavalry,  which  was  forthwith  assigned  to  service  in  the  northwest. 
There  he  had  charge  of  mail  squads  between  Horse  Station  and  Fort 
Marshall,  a distance  of  fifty-five  miles,  and  he  also  encountered  his  full 
share  of  dangers  and  arduous  service  in  other  lines.  He  continued  with 
his  command  for  three  years,  during  which  he  was  absent  from  duty  only 
six  days.  He  was  promoted  to  the  office  of  corporal  and  was  assigned 
to  the  charge  of  large  squads  of  men  sent  forth  on  detail  duty  of  danger- 
ous order,  the  Indians  being  a constant  menace  to  the  troops  in  their 
operations.  In  1865  Corporal  Guider  and  twelve  of  his  men  were 
assigned  to  duty  at  Fort  Marshall,  where,  during  the  last  three  months 
of  his  service,  he  had  charge  of  the  artillery, — a preferment  gained  by 
his  bravery  and  his  skill  as  a marksman.  In  July,  1864,  Mr.  Guider 
carried  a message,  requesting  reinforcements,  from  Colonel  Collins,  at 
Fort  Laramie,  Wyoming,  to  Major  Mackey,  at  Fort  Halleck, — a distance 
of  one  hundred  and  thirty  miles  through  a country  infested  by  hostile 
Indians.  He  accomplished  this  hazardous  mission  in  one  and  one-lialf 
days.  In  the  spring  of  1866  his  company  returned  to  Fort  Laramie, 
and  on  the  15th  of  the  following  June  the  command  started  for  the  east 
arriving  at  Fort  Leavenworth,  Kansas,  about  the  middle  of  the  following 
month.  There  Mr.  Guider  received  his  honorable  discharge  on  the  14th 
of  July,  1866.  Frank  Weller,  a member  of  the  same  regiment,  con- 
tributed to  a Kenton  paper  some  time  ago  a most  interesting  and  appre- 
ciative article  relative  to  Mr.  Guider,  who  was  still  living  at  the  time, 
and  it  is  but  consistent  that  the  statements  be  perpetuated  in  this  memoir 
In  the  context  only  slight  elimination  and  paraphrase  are  made,  to 
render  the  article  consonant  with  the  province  of  the  sketch  here 
presented. 

“In  reminiscent  war  talks  with  veterans  of  the  Union  army  in 
different  parts  of  the  country,  I have  frequently  mentioned  a comrade 
of  my  own,  who,  I claimed,  was  the  only  soldier  with  an  artificial  leg 
ever  mustered  into  the  United  States  army.  This  statement  is  usually 
received  with  polite  incredulity  by  many  old  soldiers,  while  some  who 
are  more  pointed  than  polite  flatly  contradict  it.  It  does  seem  incredu- 
lous that  a man  with  one  foot  literally  in  the  grave  could  pass  the  rigid 
medical  examination  that  was  supposed  to  prevail  in  the  army,  but  that 
such  a thing  did  actually  happen,  in  one  instance  at  least,  can  be  verified 
by  the  officers  and  enlisted  men  of  the  regiment,  as  well  as  by  the  soldier 
himself,  who  has  been  a resident  of  Hardin  county  for  many  years.  The 
soldier  who  is  thus  distinguished  above  his  comrades  is  Charles  A. 
Guider.  Early  in  1861  his  foot  was  so  crushed  by  the  overturning  of  a 
wagon  that  amputation  was  necessary,  midway  between  the  ankle  and 
knee.  Guider  was  confined  to  his  bed  by  the  injury  when  the  attack 


640 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


upon  Fort  Sumter  was  made,  and  the  president  issued  his  first  call  for 
troops.  He  is  a patriot  composed  of  the  stuff  of  which  good  soldiers 
are  made,  and  it  grieved  him  deeply  because  he  was  debarred  by  the  loss 
of  his  leg  from  offering  his  services  to  the  country  in  its  time  of  danger 
and  need.  When  the  stump  was  sufficiently  healed  the  place  of  the 
missing  leg  was  supplied  by  one  of  cork,  which,  after  a few  weeks  use, 
could  not  he  detected  save  by  a slight  limp  in  walking. 

“Guider  would  have  enlisted  as  soon  as  he  was  able  to  go  about,  but 
he  felt  that  it  would  be  impossible  for  him  to  pass  the  strict  medical 
examination  to  which  volunteers  are  supposed  to  be  subjected.  How- 
ever, in  1863,  he  did  enlist  in  a company  of  six  months’  cavalry  that  was 
being  recruited  in  Kenton,  hoping  by  hook  or  crook  to  slip  past  the 
examining  surgeon.  The  six  months’  regiment  was  disbanded  at  Camp 
Dennison  and  Guider,  with  several  other  Hardin  county  boys,  joined 
the  Eleventh  Ohio  Cavalry,  which  was  being  organized  at  that  place. 
The  writer  entered  the  company  from  another  county  at  the  same  time, 
and  was  mustered  into  the  service  with  Guider.  It  is  singular,  indeed, 
that  an  army  surgeon  would  perform  his  duty  in  so  careless  a manner 
as  to  pronounce  a man  with  an  artificial  leg  as  physically  sound  and  fit 
for  active  service  in  time  of  war ; and  the  only  way  it  can  be  accounted 
for  is  that  the  surgeon  was  under  the  influence  of  liquor.  The  exami- 
nation in  the  ease  of  the  writer  was  superficial  in  the  extreme  and 
consisted  of  a few  thumps  on  the  chest  and  a silly  question  or  two  in 
regard  to  his  physical  condition.  Guider’s  turn  came  next,  and  the 
inference  is  that  his  examination  was  conducted  in  the  same  free  and 
easy  manner,  as  he  was  accepted  and  the  next  day  became  a full-fledged 
soldier  in  Uncle  Sam’s  army.  When  the  organization  of  the  regiment 
was  completed  it  was  sent  to  Fort  Leavenworth,  Kansas,  and  after  a 
short  campaign  in  pursuit  of  the  freebooter,  Quantrell,  was  ordered  to 
Fort  Laramie,  in  the  territory  that  is  now  embraced  in  the  state  of 
Wyoming. 

“It  was  not  until  the  regiment  reached  the  latter  place  that  it  be- 
came generally  known  that  one  of  its  members  sported  a wooden  leg.  Then 
it  was  that  the  regimental  surgeon  sent  for  Guider  and  tendered  him  his 
discharge  on  the  ground  of  physical  disability.  But  the  intrepid 
cavalry  man  would  not  have  it  that  way.  He  said  that  he  had  enlisted 
for  three  years  or  during  the  war,  and  he  intended  to  stick  to  the  boys 
until  he  was  either  killed  or  discharged.  He  was  true  to  his  word  and 
proved  to  be  one  of  the  bravest  and  most  valuable  soldiers  in  the  regi- 
ment. There  was  not  a soldier  in  the  regiment  more  respected  by  both 
officers  and  men,  and  he  had  been  but  a short  time  in  the  company  until 
lie  was  made  a non-commissioned  officer.  During  the  three  years  the 
regiment  was  in  the  service  he  was  on  the  sick  report  but  three  times, 
aud  never  shirked  a duty  or  asked  a favor  on  account  of  his  physical 
infirmity.  He  was  always  ready  for  duty  and  took  an  active  part  in 
all  the  marches,  scouts,  fights  and  skirmishes  in  which  his  company  was 
engaged.  Once  he  volunteered  with  a single  companion  to  carry  a 
dispatch  from  Fort  Laramie  to  Fort  Halleck,  a distance  of  nearly  one 
hundred  and  forty  miles,  over  plain  and  mountains,  through  a wildly 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


641 


desolate  country  literally  swarming  with  hostile  savages  who  never  took 
a prisoner  alive.  This  was  a feat  that  few  men  in  the  regiment,  how- 
ever daring  would  have  cared  to  undertake. 

“After  three  years  of  arduous,  dangerous  and  honorable  service 
Comrade  Guider  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment,  at  Fort  Leaven- 
worth. July  14,  1864.  He  then  returned  to  Hardin  county,  where  he 
has  since  lived,  proving  himself  to  be  as  good  and  as  useful  a citizen  as 
he  was  a brave  and  patriotic  soldier.  Mr.  Guider  is  a modest  and 
unassuming  gentleman,  as  indeed  are  all  good  soldiers,  and  has  never 
tried  to  gain  fame  or  sympathy  as  the  only  one-legged  man  who  ever 
enlisted  in  the  army.  He  believes  that  he  only  did  his  duty,  and  lias 
never  sought  fame  on  account  of  it.  And  it  can  also  be  added  that  up 
to  this  time  his  name  does  not  appear  on  the  pension  rolls.’’ 

Upon  his  return  to  his  home  in  Hardin  county  Mr.  Guider  began 
work  in  the  construction  of  a school  house  in  Cessna  township,  and  for 
four  years  thereafter  he  followed  the  trades  of  carpenter  and  black- 
smith. In  1871  he  married,  and  he  then  turned  his  attention  to  the 
manufacturing  of  wagons  and  carriages,  establishing  his  shop  in  the 
village  of  North  Washington,  now  Dola.  From  1875  to  1881  he  utilized 
horse  power  in  the  operation  of  the  machinery  of  his  shop.  He  manu- 
factured his  own  band  saw.  boring  machine,  drill  and  lathe.  In  the 
autumn  of  1880  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  lumber,  in  Lynn 
township,  and  in  this  enterprise  he  was  associated  with  M.  L.  Bridenstine 
and  W.  J.  Obenour.  In  September,  1882,  he  sold  his  interest  in  the 
business  and  returned  to  his  home  in  North  Washington  (now  Dola) 
but  in  December,  1882,  repurchased  the  business  and  moved  to  McGuffev 
where  he  continued  to  manufacture  lumber  until  November  29,  1902, 
when  he  met  his  death  by  the  explosion  of  the  boiler  in  his  mill.  He 
was  unswerving  in  his  allegiance  to  the  Republican  party  and  took  a 
deep  and  intelligent  interest  in  the  questions  and  issues  of  the  day, 
though  he ' had  naught  of  ambition  for  official  preferment  of  any  de- 
scription. He  was  a consistent  and  liberal  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church,  an  uncompromising  advocate  of  the  cause  of  temper- 
ance, and  was  a man  who  was  signally  true  and  loyal  in  all  the  relations 
of  life.  His  heart  was  attuned  to  kindliness  and  charity,  and  he  was  a 
true  friend  to  those  in  affliction  and  distress.  In  the  precincts  of  his 
home,  the  center  of  his  interests  and  affections,  his  noble  character  best 
revealed  itself,  and  to  those  nearest  and  dearest  there  comes  a measure  of 
consolation  and  compensation  in  the  memories  of  the  past  and  in  having 
lived  in  touch  with  one  so  generous  and  one  who  so  well  exemplified  the 
truth  of  the  statement  that  ‘ ‘ The  bravest  are  the  tenderest ; the  loving 
are  the  daring.’’ 

In  Kenton,  this  county,  on  the  23d  of  October,  1871.  was  solemnized 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Guider  to  Miss  Marilla  A.  Kridler,  who  was  born  at 
Lordstown,  Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  on  the  19th  of  October,  1850,  and 
who  is  a daughter  of  Daniel  and  Jennette  (Campbell)  Kridler,  who 
settled  in  Trumbull  county  in  an  early  day,  the  father  having  come  to 
Ohio  from  Pennsylvania  and  having  been  of  stanch  German  ancestry. 
Mrs.  Guider  survived  her  honored  husband  and  now  resides  near 


642 


HISTORY  OF  IIARDIN  COUNTY 


McGuffey.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Guider  became  the  parents  of  four  children: 
Myrta  Julia,  Eva  Jennette,  Ethel  Pearl  and  Emma  Grace.  Myrta  Julia 
was  married  to  William  C.  McGuffey,  November  28,  1894,  and  now  resides 
on  their  farm  at  McGuffey;  Eva  Jennette  was  married  to  William  H. 
Powell  February  10,  1897,  and  they  reside  on  their  farm  near  Ada; 
Ethel  P.  died  on  the  6th  of  September,  1880,  at  the  age  of  four  years ; 
and  Miss  Emma  G.  is  a successful  and  popular  teacher  in  the  public 
schools  of  Hardin  county. 

George  Eewood  Geiger,  a prominent  farmer  and  a successful 
breeder  of  hogs  and  poultry  living  in  Taylor  Creek  township,  Hardin 
county,  Ohio,  is  a native  of  Seneca  county,  born  June  7,  1861.  He  is  a 
son  of  Jacob  and  Hannah  (Detwiler)  Geiger.  Jacob  C.  Geiger  was 
born  in  Stark  county,  Ohio,  and  died  in  January,  1878,  at  the  age  of 
fifty  years ; his  widow  survived  him  many  years  and  died  July  3,  1904, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-three.  They  located  in  Hardin  county  in  1866, 
and  Mr.  Geiger  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  in  Kenton,  continuing 
the  same  until  his  death.  By  trade  he  was  a harness-maker.  He  was 
a son  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  Geiger,  who  came  to  the  United  States 
from  Germany,  settling  in  Stark  county.  Jacob  Geiger,  Jr.,  was  a mem- 
ber of  the  first  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Kenton.  He  was  a 
Republican  and  held  several  minor  offices.  George  E.  Geiger  has  three 
brothers  and  two  sisters  living,  namely:  William  Henry,  of  Los  Angeles, 
California ; Ulysses  Grant,  a farmer  of  Cessna  township,  Hardin  county ; 
Frank  August,  of  North  Dakota ; Jennie  Elizabeth,  wife  of  A.  Offen- 
becker,  of  Urbana,  Ohio;  and  Alice  Ada,  wife  of  Charles  W.  Kissling, 
of  Urbana. 

The  boyhood  of  George  E.  Geiger  was  spent  with  his  parents,  and 
lie  attended  the  public  school  until  sixteen  years  of  age,  after  which  he 
turned  his  attention  to  farming.  At  his  father’s  death  he  began 
farming  on  his  own  account  in  Hardin  county,  spending  nine  years  on 
the  Jacob  Sponceler  farm.  He  then  farmed  three  years  in  Logan 
county,  and  in  1901  located  on  his  present  farm,  where  he  has  been  very 
successful  as  breeder  and  raiser  of  hogs  and  poultry.  He  has  a fine 
flock  of  pure  bred  Barred  Plymouth  Rocks,  also  an  equally  fine  flock  of 
Rhode  Island  Reds,  which  have  attracted  attention  throughout  his  part 
of  the  state.  He  also  makes  a success  of  raising  Dew  Rock  J ersey  hogs. 
Mr.  Geiger  carries  on  general  farming,  raising  grain  to  feed  his  stock. 

In  1886  Mr.  Geiger  married  Ida  Bell  Nickell,  who  was  born  Novem- 
ber 2,  1868,  daughter  of  James  and  Lida  Jane  (Crow)  Nickell.  Mr. 
Nickell  was  a farmer  and  died  at  the  age  of  forty  years.  His  widow 
survives  him  and  lives  at  Huntsville,  Ohio,  now  seventy-one  years  of  age. 
Mrs.  Geiger  was  reared  in  the  family  of  John  Pifer,  of  Kenton,  after 
her  father’s  death.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Geiger  children  have  been  born 
as  follows:  Verna  E.,  now  twenty-three  years  of  age,  teaching  school 

in  Lynn  township ; Vesta,  wife  of  Reuben  Koons,  a farmer;  and  Florence 
G.,  aged  fourteen,  attending  school.  Mr.  Geiger  and  his  wife  are  both 
members  of  the  Methodist  church  of  Silver  Creek,  and  active  in  church 
work.  He  is  a Republican,  and  has  for  three  years  held  the  office  of 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


643 


township  assessor.  He  was  also  a member  of  the  school  board.  He 
belongs  to  the  local  Grange.  Mr.  Geiger  has  won  his  success  in  life 
through  his  own  efforts  and  deserves  great  credit  for  the  manner  in 
which  he  has  attained  his  present  property  and  position.  He  is  natural- 
ly a man  of  keen  perceptions  and  sound  judgment,  which  coupled  with 
his  enterprise  and  ambition,  have  enabled  him  to  forge  ahead  at  a good 
pace.  He  is  well  known  and  popular  in  the  neighborhood. 

Dr.  -James  M.  Wood,  a physician  and  surgeon  living  in  Dudley 
township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Marion  county,  Ohio, 
March  1,  1853,  and  is  a son  of  Hampton  and  Susanna  (Marsh)  Wood. 
Hampton  Wood  was  born  at  Egg  Harbor,  New  Jersey,  in  1813,  and  was 
a son  of  Isaac  and  Sarah  Wood,  of  Scotch  and  Irish  descent.  Isaac 
Wood  and  his  wife  moved  from  Darke  county  to  Marion  county,  Ohio, 
in  1882,  when  the  country  was  sparsely  settled,  and  took  up  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land.  They  made  the  trip  with  a team  of  oxen  and 
brought  their  farm  implements  with  them.  They  spent  the  remainder 
of  their  lives  in  Marion  county,  where  they  became  prosperous  and  began 
making  improvements  on  their  farm.  They  were  the  parents  of  twelve 
children.  They  had  to  bear  the  privations  and  hardships  incident  to 
pioneer  life,  and  soon  after  settling  in  Marion  county  Mr.  Wood  would 
split  one  hundred  rails  and  trade  them  for  one  bushel  of  corn,  which 
he  carried  thirty  miles  to  have  ground  at  the  mill.  In  his  day  the  chil- 
dren had  no  shoes,  and  he  was  a hardy,  hardworking  man,  who  strove 
constantly  to  make  the  most  of  his  land  and  keep  his  family  supplied 
with  necessities.  He  was  a Whig  in  his  younger  days  and  later  became 
a Republican. 

Both  Hampton  Wood  and  his  father  were  known  and  admired  for 
their  hardiness  and  their  endurance  of  all  kinds  of  hard  work.  The 
former  was  the  oldest  of  the  children  and  attended  school  winters  until 
he  was  eighteen  years  of  age,  when  he  began  teaching  and  was  the  first 
teacher  in  Dudley  township,  beginning  in  the  old  Boynton  school.  He 
continued  in  his  profession  and  carrying  on  a farm  until  his  death. 
Politically  he  was  a Republican  and  held  the  township  offices  of  treasurer, 
clerk  and  justice  of  the  peace.  He  was  an  active  worker  and  member  of 
the  Free  Will  Baptist  church  and  often  served  as  a deacon.  He  became 
prosperous  as  a farmer,  and  was  a progressive,  enterprising  citizen.  His 
death  occurred  on  May  8,  1889.  He  was  married  in  1846  to  Susanna, 
Marsh,  who  died  in  1878,  at  the  age  of  fifty- five  years;  she  was  a 
daughter  of  Nalen  and  Mary  A.  (Yazell)  Marsh,  of  Marion  county. 
Mr.  Wood  and  his  wife  became  the  parents  of  the  following  children : 
Isaac,  a farmer  of  Oregon;  John,  of  Kenton,  Ohio;  Dr.  J.  M. ; George,  a 
farmer  of  Marion  county;  Scott,  a farmer  of  Marion  county;  Pearl,  on 
the  old  homestead ; Lawrence,  a farmer ; Eliza  Catherine,  wife  of  A.  P. 
Rhodes,  a farmer;  Ollie,  wife  of  Jacob  Yauger,  and  Merty,  Nathan  and 
Henry,  who  died  when  young. 

Dr.  J.  M.  Wood  attended  the  district  school  until  sixteen  years  of 
age  and  then  spent  two  years  at  the  Marion  high  school,  after  which 
he  taught  five  years,  between  his  teaching  attending  the  Free  Will 


644 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Baptist  College  in  Ridgeville  two  years.  In  company  with  his  brother 
John  Mr.  Wood  bought  two  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Dudley  township, 
where  they  spent  one  year,  and  then  James  M.  studied  medicine  a year, 
after  which  he  purchased  an  interest  in  a mercantile  business  in  Larue, 
where  he  remained  one  year  and  then  sold  out.  He  spent  two  years  at 
the  Columbus  (Ohio)  Medical  College,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1879. 
He  practiced  one  year  in  Yelverton,  Hardin  county,  then  worked  one 
year  in  Kenton  as  clerk  for  Dr.  Rodgers,  after  which  he  spent  five  years 
as  a druggist  and  practicing  physician  at  Larue,  and  while  living  there 
was  appointed  postmaster.  He  then  removed  to  Lincoln,  Nebraska, 
and  shortly  after  returned  to  Ohio  and  purchased  his  present  farm  in 
Dudley  township.  He  carries  on  general  farming  and  pays  special 
attention  to  dairying,  which  in  the  present  day  is  attracting  so  much 
attention  and  returning  such  large  profits.  Dr.  Wood  also  keeps  up  the 
practice  of  his  profession,  in  which  he  has  been  very  successful. 

Politically  Dr.  Wood  is  a stanch  supporter  of  the  interests  of  the 
Republican  party,  and  has  been  an  active  worker  for  the  same.  He  is 
a public-spirited  and  useful  citizen,  the  friend  of  progress  and  every 
cause  tending  toward  the  advancement  and  betterment  of  humanity. 
He  stands  high  in  his  profession  and  is  a member  of  Hardin  County 
Medical  Society.  His  farm  is  one  mile  long,  vand  it  faces  the  Kenton 
pike  road  just  east  of  Hepburn.  He  has  twenty-five  registered  Jersey 
cows  in  his  herd  for  dairy  purposes.  His  barn,  which  is  the  largest  in 
Dudley  township,  is  ninety  feet  long,  with  a silo  that  will  hold  a one 
hundred  and  fifty-ton  crop  and  his  barn  holds  one  hundred  and  fifty 
tons  of  hay.  He  is  using  modern  methods  and  has  made  a special 
study  of  scientific  farming,  so  that  his  judgment  is  considered  very 
good  on  all  agricultural  matters.  He  carries  on  his  farm  as  a business 
proposition  and  reaps  from  it  the  maximum  of  profit.  He  is  highly 
respected  in  the  community  and  well  known.  Dr.  Wood  is  a member 
of  Lodge  No.  463,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  of  Larue,  also  of 
the  Maccabees  of  Hepburn. 

Dr.  Wood  married  Lucy  Potter,  who  was  born  July  13,  1859,  on  her 
father’s  farm,  daughter  of  Josiah  Potter,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
three  years,  December  9,  1891.  Mr.  Potter  was  a native  of  Johnstown, 
New  York,  born  in  1807.  He  was  a pioneer  of  Dudley  township, 
settling  there  in  1849 ; in  1844  he  located  in  Wyandot  county,  Ohio, 
where  lie  lived  about  five  years.  He  made  the  trip  west  with  a horse 
and  wagon,  bringing  his  wife  and  two  children.  He  was  a tanner  by 
trade  and  his  wife  made  mittens  and  gloves  during  their  trip,  in  which 
way  they  made  some  money  along  the  way.  The  mittens  and  gloves 
were  made  of  tanned  hide,  which  he  tanned  by  hand.  Mr.  Potter  sent 
his  products  to  market  by  way  of  the  lakes  for  many  years,  and  the  trip 
required  weeks,  so  that  he  was  some  time  realizing  on  his  sales  at  times. 
In  1832  he  married  Mary  Ann  Mills,  who  died  in  1868,  at  the  age  of 
fifty-two  years.  Besides  Mrs.  Wood  their  children  who  still  survive 
are:  William,  a farmer  of  Minnesota;  Sophronia,  wife  of  W.  Kastor,  of 
Washington  township ; Mary  Jane,  wife  of  Isaac  Hoyt,  of  Kenton; 
Charles  F.,  a farmer  of  Minnesota.  Mrs.  Wood  is  the  youngest.  She 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


645 


is  a member  of  the  United  Brethren  church  and  is  president  of  the 
Ladies’  Aid  Society.  She  is  a member  of  the  Maccabees  of  Hepburn 
and  the  order  of  Eastern  Star  at  Larue.  Dr.  Wood  and  his  wife  became 
the  parents  of  children  as  follows:  Mamie  E.,  a gifted  artist,  wife  of 

Gr.  Vanatta,  of  Kenton,  who  has  three  children,  Keith,  Rex  and  Alice; 
Aubrey  Hampton,  a farmer  and  justice  of  the  peace  of  Dudley  township, 
married  Bertha  Drew  and  they  have  two  children,  Madison  F.  and 
Esther  A. ; and  Anna  B.,  who  is  well  educated  in  music  and  has  been  a 
music  teacher,  is  now  attending  school  in  Ada.  Dr.  Wood  is  the  only 
physician  living  in  Dudley  township,  and  he  has  a large  practice. 

Ephraim  E.  Smith,  a retired  farmer  living  at  Hepburn,  Ohio,  was 
born  in  Dudley  township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  January  19,  1846.  He 
is  a son  of  Nathan  and  Mary  Kiser  (McLane)  Smith,  and  grandson  of 
Edward  and  Jennie  (Sliaefer)  Smith.  Edward  Smith  was  a native  of 
Virginia,  a son  of  Thomas  and  Jennie  (Remey)  Smith.  The  father 
of  Thomas  Smith  married  Jennie,  daughter  of  the  well  known  Lord 
Fairfax,  of  Fairfax  Court  House,  Virginia,  descendant  of  the  English 
family.  Some  of  the  Smiths  took  part  in  the  Revolution. 

Nathan  Smith  was  born  at  Zanesville,  Ohio,  April  20,  1818,  and 
was  reared  on  a farm,  receiving  his  education  in  the  public  schools.  He 
followed  farming  and  stock  raising  all  his  active  life,  and  is  now  living 
retired  at  the  age  of  ninety-two  years.  He  bought  a tract  of  land  and 
cleared  it,  and  has  now  one  of  the  largest  farms  in  Dudley  township ; 
he  also  operated  a sawmill,  one  of  the  first  in  the  township.  He  be- 
longs to  the  Methodist  church,  and  is  now  a Republican,  having  once 
been  a member  of  the  “Know  nothing”  party.  He  has  voted  for 
every  president  since  casting  his  vote  in  1840  for  Harrison,  and  is  the 
oldest  voter  in  the  township.  His  wife,  who  was  born  in  1826,  is  still 
living,  and  they  are  well  known  throughout  the  community,  it  being 
a rare  thing  to  find  a couple  who  have  lived  together  so  many  years 
and  have  both  attained  a venerable  old  age.  She  is  a daughter  of 
Ephraim  C.  McLane,  a native  of  Pennsylvania  who  removed  to  Ohio 
when  a young  man,  and  became  a colonel  of  militia  from  Muskingum 
county.  He  died  July  21,  1861,  at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years,  a devout 
Christian  and  ready  for  death.  He  married  Nancy  Craig,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  ninety-four  years,  and  they  made  their  home  in  Dudley 
township,  Hardin  county.  Nathan’s  father,  Edward  Smith,  built  the 
second  log  house  in  what  is  now  Zanesville,  Ohio.  The  six  children  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  are : Nancy  J.,  widow  of  George  Bannig ; Ephraim  E. ; 
Elizabeth  A.  Hastings,  of  Pleasant  Hill,  Missouri ; J.  S.  Smith,  Jewell, 
Iowa,  vice  president  of  bank  there ; Catherine  S.,  the  wife  of  Theo.  Mc- 
Henny,  of  Larue,  Ohio;  II.  C.  Smith,  of  Jewell,  Iowa,  president  of 
First  National  Bank  there. 

Ephraim  E.  Smith  remained  at  home  and  attended  school  and 
when  eighteen  years  of  age  enlisted  in  ompany  I,  One  Hundred  and 
Thirty-fifth  Ohio  Volunteers,  and  served  three  years,  being  mustered 
out  in  1865.  He  took  part  in  the  Virginia  campaign  and  participated 
in  the  battles  at  Antietam,  Harpers  Ferry,  Halltown  and  many  others. 


646 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


He  had  a narrow  escape  at  one  time  from  a bullet  which  passed  through 
his  clothes.  Returning  home  Mr.  Smith  spent  a year  on  the  home 
farm  and  then  moved  to  Iowa,  where  he  began  working  on  the  railroad 
between  Boone  and  Omaha,  and  remained  in  this  work  two  years;  later 
he  worked  a year  for  the  Union  Pacific  Railway  Company  and  became 
sick  so  he  returned  home.  He  followed  farming  for  two  years  and  then 
removed  to  Larue,  where  he  was  engaged  in  mercantile  business  four 
years.  He  sold  his  interest  in  this  business  and  carried  on  farming 
until  1892,  when  he  came  to  Hepburn  and  erected  the  elevator  now 
owned  by  F.  Laubis,  end  engaged  in  the  Hour  business.  He  helped 
organize  the  Flour  Mill  Exchange  of  Mount  Victory,  and  in  1895, 
through  the  speculation  of  his  partner  lost  his  total  investment  of 
nine  thousand  dollars.  He  then  traded  stock  for  a general  merchandise 
store,  which  he  carried  on  a year,  and  engaged  in  farming.  He  was  a 
successful  and  industrious  business  man,  and  has  now  retired  from 
active  life.  He  owns  two  large  farms  in  Dudley  township.  Mr. 
Smith  is  a prominent  and  influential  citizen,  actively  interested  in  pub- 
lic affairs,  and  is  a stanch  Republican,  although  he  has  never  cared  for 
public  office,  being  too  much  occupied  with  his  business  affairs. 

Mr.  Smith  has  been  a member  of  the  Masonic  Order  since  1868, 
and  is  affiliated  with  Kenton  Blue  Lodge  and  Royal  Arch  Chapter. 
He  is  one  of  the  charter  members  of  Hepburn  Lodge  of  Knights  of 
Pythias,  and  belongs  to  Kenton  Post,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 
Mr.  Smith  married  Mary  Outland,  born  October  26,  1848,  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Eliza  (Freer)  Outland,  who  settled  in  Dudley  township  in 
1864.  Thomas  Outland ’s  father,  Josiah  Outland,  was  a native  of 
North  Carolina,  and  married  Miss  Kiseoh  Gatar.  Thomas  Outland  was 
a farmer  in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  but  moved  to  Hardin  county,  in  1864, 
where  he  died  in  1875  at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years;  his  widow  died  in 
1877,  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years.  Mrs.  Smith  is  a member  of  the  Metho- 
dist church  and  the  Ladies’  Aid  Society.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  have  two 
children,  Warren  H.,  born  in  1873,  and  Jennie  C.,  born  in  1876.  War- 
ren is  a farmer,  married  Blanch  Morrison,  and  they  have  two  children, 
Berkley  M.  and  Mary  Bernardine.  Jennie  married  John  H.  Clark,  an 
attorney  of  Marion,  Ohio,  and  they  have  one  child,  Gladys  Irene. 

George  A.  Lingo. — A well-to-do  young  business  man  of  Hepburn, 
George  Alvin  Lingo  was  born  on  the  old  family  homestead  in  Dudley 
township,  Hardin  county,  on  the  7th  of  May,  1887.  He  is  a son  of 
Alvin  and  Clara  V.  (Shark)  Lingo,  both  natives  of  that  township, 
whose  useful  lives  are  sketched  in  connection  with  the  biography  of 
James  Lingo  found  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Mr.  Lingo’s  maternal 
grandfather,  Simon  Shark,  who  was  a native  son  of  West  Virginia,  set- 
tled in  Madison  county  as  a boy  and  in  1863  located  in  Dudley  township, 
this  county.  He  married  Miss  Maria  Wiggle,  daughter  of  Hiram 
Wiggle,  an  old  and  substantial  farmer  of  the  neighborhood,  his  wife 
dying  in  1896  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven  years. 

The  boyhood  of  George  A.  Lingo  was  spent  on  his  father’s  farm, 
and  he  attended  school  until  he  was  seventeen  years  of  age,  continuing 


PIONEER  HOME  OF  RUDOLPH,  MATILDA,  JOHN  AND  JACOB  DEPPELLER 


JOHN  DEPPELLER  MATILDA  DEPPELLER  JACOB  DEPPELLER 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


647 


his  agricultural  pursuits  on  the  olcl  homestead  place  until  1907,  and  for 
four  years  he  traveled  in  the  west.  In  the  year  named  he  removed  to 
Hepburn,  assisting  his  brother  James  in  the  hardware  business.  He 
is  energetic  and  industrious,  is  a thorough  business  man  and  stands 
high  in  the  moral  estimation  of  the  community.  In  Masonry  he  is 
identified  with  the  lodge  at  Larue,  Marion  county,  and  his  politics  have 
always  been  Republican. 

On  July  9,  1909,  Mr.  Lingo  married  Miss  Edith  Ellen  Clement, 
who  was  born  April  15,  1885,  and  is  a daughter  of  Charles  C.  and 
Margaret  (Hunter)  Clement  of  Hepburn.  Mrs.  Lingo’s  father  is  a 
painter  and  mason  by  trade  and,  at  the  age  of  forty-two,  is  an  energetic 
and  respected  citizen  of  that  town.  Her  grandfather,  George  Clement, 
was  a boy  when  lie  came  to  the  community  with  his  parents  and  settled 
on  what  became  known  as  the  old  Clement  place  north  of  Hepburn. 
He  married  Mary  Ann  Armstrong,  of  a family  whose  members  were 
pioneers  of  Dudley  township.  The  maternal  grandfather,  John  Hun- 
ter, is  living  at  Kenton  at  the  age  of  seventy  years,  and  his  wife  is 
still  spared  to  him,  aged  sixty-three.  Mr.  Lingo  and  his  kife  are 
popular  socially  and  highly  esteemed  for  their  reliable  traits  of  character. 

John  Deppeller  is  one  of  the  agriculturists  of  Washington  town- 
ship and  a son  of  one)  of  Hardin  county’s  early  pioneers,  Rudolph 
Deppeller.  The  father  was  a native  of  Switzerland,  born  August  8, 
1800,  in  Canton  of  Aargau,  and  in  journeying  to  the  United  States  in 
1816  he  spent  sixteen  weeks  sailing  on  the  ocean  from  Amsterdam  to 
Philadelphia.  He  was  bound  out  for  four  years  on  a farm  near  Phila- 
delphia to  a farmer  to  pay  his  passage  to  America.  His  first  home  in 
this  country  was  at  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  learned  the 
shoe  maker’s  trade,  and  he  worked  at  that  avocation  more  or  less  during 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  Prom  Philadelphia  Mr.  Deppeller  moved  to 
Wyandot  county,  Ohio,  in  1835,  where  he  made  shoes  for  the  Wyandot 
Indians,  and  on  the  19th  of  November,  1847,  he  arrived  in  that  part  of 
Hardin  county  now  known  as  Washington  township,  here  purchasing 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  wild  land.  Building  him  a log  cabin,  the 
typical  home  of  the  pioneers,  he  began  clearing  the  land,  alternating 
this  work  with  shoe  making  and  mending,  and  after  a few  years  he  sold 
eighty  acres  of  his  tract,  the  remaining  eighty  being  now  the  home  of  his 
son  John,  and  it  is  under  a splendid  state  of  cultivation. 

Rudolph  Deppeller  married  Matilda  Blunden,  a native  daughter  of 
Fairfield  county,  Ohio,  born  August  28,  1825,  and  two  sons,  John  and 
Jacob,  were  born  to  them,  the  younger  Jacob  being  now  a resident  of 
the  state  of  Kansas.  On  the  20tli  of  September,  1877,  Rudolph  Dep- 
peller was  called  from  this  life  and  his  widow  survived  him  many  years, 
dying  on  March  28,  1892.  They  were  loved  and  honored  in  the  com- 
munity where  they  had  so  long  lived  and  labored  being  revered  for  their 
true  worth  of  character. 

John  Deppeller,  who  owns  the  old  Deppeller  homestead  in  Wash- 
ington township,  was  born  in  Wyandot  county,  May  4,  1847,  and  was 
therefore  but  six  months  old  when  the  family  became  residents  of  Har- 


CAS 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


din  county.  In  the  district  schools  of  his  home  community  he  obtained 
a good  education  and  at  an  early  age  began  teaching,  but  as  his  health 
gave  way  he  was  obliged  to  abandon  that  profession  for  the  farm,  and 
he  has  been  successful  as  an  agriculturist.  For  five  years  he  served 
Washington  township  well  and  faithfully  as  clerk,  and  he  has  also  served 
on  the  school  board.  He  is  a member  of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry, 
and  is  an  efficient  worker  for  the  order.  Mr.  Deppeller  was  married 
May  5,  1892,  to  Matilda,  a daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Sydney  J.  Packer. 

Jacob  Deppeller,  the  younger  son  of  Rudolph  and  Matilda  (Blun- 
den)  Deppeller  was  born  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  his  brother  John, 
March  3,  1853.  He  attended  the  common  schools  in  his  home  district, 
traveling  over  bad  roads  a distance  of  two  miles  daily.  He  also  assisted 
with  the  farm  work  using  a team  of  oxen.  When  a young  man  he 
spent  some  time  as  a clerk  in  a store,  and  then  in  order  to  prepare  him- 
self for  teaching  attended  the  Ada  Normal  (as  it  was  then  called)  and 
taught  several  terms  of  common  school.  In  the  fall  of  1873  Mr.  Dep- 
peller went  to  San  Jose,  California,  to  attend  the  State  Normal  there  and 
to  prepare  himself  to  teach  in  the  common  schools  of  that  state.  He 
received  a state  certificate  and  became  a county  examiner  and  taught 
several  terms  of  school.  In  the  fall  of  1879  he  returned  to  Ohio,  taught 
a winter  term  in  the  home  school  and  then  went  to  Columbus  to  take 
a business  course.  Going  then  to  Denver,  Colorado,  he  there  completed 
a course  in  assaying  in  minerals  and  metals  and  joined  the  mining  com- 
pany of  Captain  Jack  Crawford  the  “Poet  Scout”  and  went  with  them  to 
New  Mexico  where  they  prospected  until  the  Apache  Indians  drove  them 
out.  Mr.  Deppeller  next  went  with  a government  surveying  party  that 
worked  in  Colorado  until  winter  storms  closed  operations  when  he  began 
clerking  in  a bank  and  store  for  Archulettas,  in  Conejos,  Colorado. 

Returning  to  Ohio  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Jennie, 
eldest  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Adeline  Obenour  on  January  16,  1883. 
Mr.  Deppeller  then  helped  to  farm  the  home  place  during  the  winter 
months  teaching  school  in  Washington  county,  Kansas.  He  has  lived 
in  Kansas  a number  of  years,  at  one  time  being  employed  in  an  abstract 
and  title  office  and  then  in  the  county  recorder’s  office,  later  being  made 
deputy  recorder.  Following-  a change  in  officials  he  then  became  assist- 
ant cashier  in  a bank.  In  October,  1905,  after  his  return  from  a visit 
to  his  old  Ohio  home,  he  became  connected  with  the  county  treasurer’s 
office  and  here  spent  four  years  as  deputy.  In  the  fall  of  1908  he  was 
elected  to  the  office  of  county  treasurer  assuming  his  duties  in  October 
of  1909. 

Frank  J.  Laubis. — The  leading  citizen  of  the  village  of  Hepburn, 
Ohio,  and  proprietor  of  its  only  business  industry,  was  born  in  Goshen 
township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  January  9,  1870.  His  father,  Rein- 
hart Laubis,  was  born  in  Germany,  and  came  with  his  parents,  Frank 
and  Regina  (Zuckswort)  Laubis,  to  America,  at  the  age  of  seven  years. 
Frank  Laubis  was  a shoemaker  by  trade,  and  one  of  the  earliest  settlers 
in  Goshen  township,  where  he  died ; his  widow  died  in  1882.  They 
built  a log  cabin  and  set  to  work  to  clear  and  cultivate  their  farm. 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


649 


Reinhart  Laubis,  who  has  now  reached  the  age  of  sixty-seven  years,  has 
been  a farmer  all  his  life  and  carried  on  the  old  homestead  after  the 
death  of  his  father ; he  became  one  of  the  most  thrifty  and  prosperous 
farmers  of  the  vicinity.  He  is  a member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  and 
though  and  ardent  Democrat  never  desired  public  office.  Reinhart 
Laubis  married  Mary  Breidentein,  who  died  in  1877 ; her  parents  were 
natives  of  Germany  and  she  was  born  in  Goshen  township.  To  this 
union  were  born  children  as  follows:  Catherine,  wife  of  William  Feister, 
a farmer  of  Goshen  township ; Elizabeth,  wife  of  D.  H.  Bunce,  of 
Kenton,  Ohio;  Frank  J. ; Jacob,  foreman  for  the  T.  & 0.  C.  Railway 
Company;  Ella,  wife  of  IT.  Heile,  of  Kenton,  Ohio,  and  Lena,  wife  of 
Albert  Rogers,  a farmer  of  Pleasant  township.  Reinhart  Laubis  mar- 
ried for  his  second  wife  Catherine,  daughter  of  Abraham  and  Catherine 
(Kemmer)  Kreinbell  both  now  deceased.  To  this  union  were  born 
children  as  follows : John,  a farmer  at  Forest,  Ohio ; David,  a carpenter 
at  Grants,  Ohio;  Edward,  of  Goshen  township;  Harry  at  home;  and 
Susan,  Nettie  and  Carrie  at  home. 

Frank  J.  Laubis  attended  school  until  fourteen  years  of  age,  worked 
out  three  years  and  then  worked  at  home  on  his  father’s  farm.  At  the 
age  of  nineteen  he  began  shipping  hay  on  his  own  account,  locating  at 
Larue ; through  the  fault  of  his  partner  he  failed  in  business  and  returned 
home.  After  working  out  by  the  day  for  two  years  he  was  able  to 
save  sufficient  money  to  again  establish  himself  in  business  in  a small 
way,  and  has  since  been  actively  engaged  in  hay,  grain  and  stock  ship- 
ping at  Hepburn,  where  he  OAvns  a large  elevator.  He  is  one  of  the 
largest  shippers  in  the  vicinity,  and  has  met  with  financial  .success. 
This  enterprise  is  the  main  support  of  the  village  of  Hepburn,  and 
Mr.  Laubis  is  considered  an  enterprising,  valuable  citizen.  He  has 
paid  close  attention  to  his  business  interests,  building  up  his  business  by 
untiring  industry  and  thrift. 

Mr.  Laubis  is  a Democrat  in  political  views  and  takes  an  active 
interest  in  public  affairs,  although  on  account  of  his  extensive  business 
he  does  not  care  to  fill  public  office.  He  is  a member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church  at  Hepburn,  where  he  is  a trustee  and  treasurer.  He 
is  also  affiliated  with  Hopkin  Lodge  No.  619,  Knights  of  Pythias,  of 
Hepburn,  and  with  Lodge  No.  157,  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of 
Elks,  of  Kenton. 

In  1894  Mr.  Laubis  married  Emma  Blanker,  born  December  18, 
3877,  daughter  of  George  and  Elizabeth  (Althomer)  Blanker,  among 
the  oldest  settlers  of  the  county ; Mr.  Blanker  died  in  1884,  and  his  widow 
survives  him,  at  the  age  of  sixty  years.  Mrs.  Laubis  is  a member  of 
the  Reformed  church,  and  also  belongs  to  the  Pythian  Sisters,  being 
most  excellent  chief  of  Hepburn  Lodge.  Mr.  Laubis  and  his  wife  have 
been  blessed  with  children  as  follows:  Earl,  born  January  10.  1896; 

Margaret,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eight  years;  Russell,  born  September 
5,  1902 ; and  Carvin,  born  December  28,  1904. 

William  W.  Durbin. — Among  the  citizens  of  Kenton,  Ohio,  to 
become  prominent  throughout  the  state  is  William  W.  Durbin,  who 


650 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


received  the  appointment,  through  Governor  Harmon,  April  1,  1909,  to 
the  penitentiary  hoard  of  Columbus.  Mr.  Durbin  is  well  known  as  a 
prominent  Democrat,  and  has  for  many  years  been  active  in  party  in- 
terests. He  is  a successful  and  prominent  business  man,  and  has 
become  known  throughout  many  parts  of  the  country  as  an  entertainer 
in  the  line  of  magic  and  mystery,  having  gained  a wide  reputation  as 
a magician  of  wonderful  powers,  whose  unparallelled  feats  have  been 
the  marvel  of  all  who  have  seen  them. 

Mr.  Durbin  was  born  in  Kenton,  September  29,  1866,  the  only  son 
of  William  W.  and  Margaret  (Lipoid)  Durbin.  Mr.  Durbin,  Jr.,  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  city,  which  he  attended 
until  about  1882,  when  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Champion  Iron  Com- 
pany and  learned  the  trade  of  a coremaker,  which  he  followed  some  two 
years.  He  then  read  law  with  Judge  A.  B.  Johnson,  and  in  June,  1886, 
was  appointed  to  a position  in  the  treasury  department  at  Washington. 
Tie  attended  the  National  Law  University  in  the  evenings,  and  in  1888 
graduated  therefrom.  lie  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Ohio  in  June, 
1888.  and  took  a post-graduate  course  in  law.  On  March  25,  1890, 
Mr.  Durbin  resigned  his  position  in  Washington.  He  had  been  pro- 
moted to  the  post  of  examiner  of  claims  in  the  office  of  the  second 
auditor  of  the  United  States  Treasury. 

In  1890  Mr.  Durbin  married  Mary  L.  Danaher,  daughter  of  Thomas 
and  Ann  Danaher,  of  Washington,  D.  C.  Retiring  from  public  office, 
Mr.  Durbin  entered  into  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Kenton,  and 
engaged  in  collecting  claims  of  officers  of  the  late  war.  In  1902  Mr. 
Di  irbin  became  manager  and  treasurer  of  the  Scioto  Sign  Company, 
and  since  he  became  connected  with  same  the  business  has  largely  in- 
creased. He  is  a man  of  great  business  ability  and  acumen,  and  has 
been  interested  at  various  times  in  several  different  enterprises. 

Since  attaining  his  majority  Mr.  Durbin  has  taken  an  active  inter- 
est in  political  matters,  and  served  as  a member  of  the  board  of  educa- 
tion from  1891  to  1894,  the  youngest  man  ever  elected  to  this  office. 
He  has  been  chairman  of  the  Eighth  County  Democratic  Committee, 
was  at  one  time  chairman  of  the  State  Democratic  Committee  and  has 
been  one  of  the  leading  Democrats  in  the  state.  He  is  a natural  organ- 
izer, and  has  given  efficient  service  to  his  party  and  also  to  the  public 
while  serving  in  their  interests.  He  was  a candidate  on  the  ticket  with 
Governor  Harmon  for  state  auditor,  and  ran  fifty  thousand  ahead  of 
his  ticket,  although  he  was  defeated.  He  was  closely  identified  with  the 
election  of  Harmon,  and  is  held  in  high  esteem  by  his  fellows.  Mr. 
Durbin  has  a large  circle  of  friends,  and  they  appreciate  his  many  good 
qualities.  He  is  a man  of  generous  nature  and  high  character,  and  has 
the  faculty  of  keeping  the  friends  he  has  won,  being  very  popular  with 
all  classes  of  men.  Mr.  Durbin  is  a member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias, 
having  joined  the  order  while  in  Washington,  and  has  served  as  chan- 
cellor commander  of  his  lodge.  In  1902  he  joined  the  Elks,  and  has  been 
three  times  elected  to  the  office  of  exalted  ruler. 

Mr.  Durbin  has  two  sons,  Francis  W.,  born  in  1891,  and  Thomas 
Andrew,  born  in  1894. 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


651 


Peter  Major  Duff,  a prominent  farmer  and  auctioneer  of  Hepburn, 
Ohio,  was  born  May  14,  1866,  at  Washington  Court  House,  Ohio,  a son 
of  Peter  Duff.  Peter  Duff,  Sr.  carried  on  his  trade  of  wagon-maker  in 
Fayette  county,  Ohio,  where  he  died  when  Peter  M.  was  a child.  He 
married  Mary  Ann  Purwell,  who  survives  him,  and  has  now  reached  the 
age  of  sixtv-two  years.  They  became  the  parents  of  children  as  follows : 
George  W.,  minister  and  auctioneer  at  Springfield,  Ohio;  Silas,  a car- 
penter of  Kenton ; William,  an  oil  refiner,  living  at  Lima,  Qhio ; Peter 
M. ; Nancy,  wife  of  Charles  Burk,  a tank  builder  at  Carey,  Illinois ; 
and  Charles,  who  died  in  infancy.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Duff  his 
widow  married  K.  B.  Cole,  a retired  blacksmith,  and  they  now  reside 
at  Ohio  City,  Ohio.  Kir.  Dnff  was  a prominent  and  highly  respected 
citizen,  and  served  as  a .justice  of  the  peace. 

The  boyhood  days  of  Peter  M.  Duff  were  spent  at  home,  and  he 
attended  the  public  schools  of  his  native  county  until  fifteen  years  old, 
after  which  he  worked  at  farming  until  twenty.  For  two  years  he  fol- 
lowed teaming,  worked  on  a railroad  two  years,  and  in  1872  opened  a 
meat  market  at  Ridgeway.  Later  he  engaged  in  the  same  business  at 
Hepburn,  but  sold  his  market  and  engaged  in  the  butchering  business 
which  he  followed  until  1904;  during  this  time  he  took  up  the  calling 
of  auctioneer,  which  he  has  followed  with  success  since.  Mr.  Duff  has 
gained  a high  reputation  as  a auctioneer,  in  Hardin  county  and  also 
in  other  parts  of  the  state,  being  kept  fairly  busy  at  the  business.  Dur- 
ing 1908  he  officiated  at  one  hundred  and  twenty  sales,  and  during  1909 
at  one  hundred  and  seventeen. 

Mr.  Duff  is  the  manager  of  a summer  resort  and  amusement  park 
at  Hepburn,  and  aside  from  his  auctioneering  business  has  charge  of 
a farm  adjoining  Hepburn.  Tie  takes  an  active  interest  in  public  affairs, 
is  a Democrat  in  political  views,  and  has  served  two  terms  as  township 
assessor  and  two  terms  as  a member  of  the  school  board.  He  is  a mem- 
ber of  Hepburn  Lodge  No.  619,  Knights  of  Pythias,  having  held  nearly 
all  the  offices  in  the  same,  belongs  to  Lodge  No.  234,  Knighted  Order 
of  Tented  Maccabees,  and  to  Hepburn  Lodge.  No.  301,  Pythian  Sisters. 

On  July  21,  1886,  Mr.  Duff  married  Mina  B.  Hunt,  born  at  Ridge- 
way, Ohio,  December  29,  1865,  daughter  of  Thomas  C.  and  Elizabeth 
(Rayburn)  Hunt.  Mr.  Hunt  came  to  Ridgeway,  Ohio,  from  the  state 
of  New  York,  and  was  a cooper  by  trade;  he  died  there  in  1870.  He 
served  through  the  Civil  war  in  Company  E.  Sixth  Regiment,  from  Ohio, 
was  disabled  and  re-enlisted,  joining  Company  K of  the  Forty-second 
Infantry.  lie  lost  his  health  through  exposure,  and  was  discharged 
April  4,  1866.  Upon  returning  to  Ridgeway  he  was  married  to  Eliza- 
beth, daughter  of  William  and  Amanda  (Hunt)  Rayburn;  Mr.  Ray- 
burn was  born  in  1814  and  his  wife  July  4,  1818.  Mrs.  Hunt  died  May 
21,  1908,  aged  seventy-three  years.  Besides  Mrs.  Duff,  Mr.  Hunt  and 
his  wife  had  two  daughters  and  one  son,  namely:  Cynthia,  wife  of 
William  Davis,  a farmer  of  Logan  county;  Mary,  wife  of  J.  Wilkes,  of 
West  Mansfield ; and  William  R.,  a farmer.  Mrs.  Duff  is  a prominent 
member  of  the  Pythian  Sisters,  of  Hepburn,  and  is  now  serving  in  the 
office  of  outer  guard,  having  passed  all  the  chairs.  She  is  also  a member 


652 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


of  the  Maccabees  and  the  Ladies’  Aid  Society,  holding  the  office  of  lieu- 
tenant-commander in  the  former.  She  is  a member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church  at  Hepburn.  To  Mr.  Duff  and  his  wife  have  been  born 
children  as  follows : George  Horton,  born  in  1889,  a clerk  in  Hepburn, 
Edgar  Duff,  born  in  1892;  Pearl  Carlos,  in  1894;  Charles  Lester,  in 
1898;  Ethel  May,  in  1891  ; and  Avil  Gladys  in  1896. 

Madison  M.  Thompson. — Prominently  identified  with  the  leading 
interests  of  the  progressive  city  of  Kenton  as  its  mayor,  M.  M.  Thompson 
is  held  in  high  esteem  as  a man  and  a citizen,  and  his  influence  and  as- 
sistence  are  always  sought  in  behalf  of  undertakings  for  the  public 
good.  A son  of  Robert  Thompson,  he  was  born,  March  28,  1856,  in  Union 
county,  Ohio,  where  his  grandfather  Thompson  was  a pioneer  farmer, 
migrating  to  that  part  of  the  state  from  Virginia. 

Robert  Thompson  was  born  on  the  homestead  which  his  father  re- 
deemed from  the  wilderness  in  Union  county,  Ohio,  and  was  there 
brought  up  and  educated.  He  was  there  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits until  about  1860,  when  he  came  with  his  family  to  Hardin  county, 
locating  on  a farm  at  Mount  Victory,  where  he  improved  a good  estate, 
and  was  employed  in  tilling  the  soil  the  remainder  of  his  active  life. 
He  married  Miranda  Longbrake,  who  was  born  in  Ohio,  where  her  par- 
ents were  early  settlers,  coming  from  New  York  state.  Of  their  family  of 
four  sons  and  two  daughters  all  but  one  grew  to  years  of  maturity, 
Madison  M.,  the  special  subject  of  this  brief  biographical  notice,  being 
the  firstborn. 

About  four  years  old  when  his  parents  moved  to  Mount  Victory, 
M.  M.  Thompson  there  received  a common  school  education,  and  as  a 
youth  assisted  his  father  in  the  care  of  the  farm.  When  ready  to  be- 
gin life  on  his  own  account,  he  bought  land  in  Dudley  township,  Hardin 
county,  and  was  there  employed  as  a tiller  of  the  soil  about  four  years. 
Embarking  then  in  business  as  a general  merchant  at  Mount  Victory, 
Mr.  Thompson  was  appointed  postmaster  in  1885,  by  President  Cleve- 
land. Disposing  of  his  business  at  the  end  of  four  years  he  returned 
to  his  farm,  and  in  1890  was  elected  county  auditor.  This  important 
position  Mr.  Thompson  filled  satisfactorily  for  six  years,  after  which 
he,  in  1897,  resumed  the  management  of  his  farming  estate.  In  1906, 
desirous  of  giving  his  children  good  educational  advantages,  he  became 
a resident  of  Kenton,  retaining,  however,  the  ownership  of  his  valuable 
farm  of  two  hundred  and  ten  acres  lying  but  eight  miles  from  Kenton. 
In  1907  Mr.  Thompson  was  elected  to  his  present  position  as  mayor  of 
the  city,  and  in  the  management  of  municipal  affairs  has  been  very 
successful. 

Mr.  Thompson  married,  on  the  9th  of  April,  1881,  Fannie  L.  Clem- 
ons, a daughter  of  Rev.  James  C.  and  Filoma  (Little)  Clemons,  who  set- 
tled in  Green  county,  Ohio,  in  pioneer  days.  Mr.  Clemons  later  became  a 
minister  and  preached  many  years  in  Northern  Ohio  at  different  charges, 
including  Prospect  in  Marion  county,  where  Mrs.  Thompson  lived  at  the 
time  of  her  marriage.  Nine  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Thompson,  two  of  whom,  daughters,  died  in  infancy,  while  seven  are  liv- 


2/1/)  - 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


653 


ing,  namely : Roy,  Grover,  Clyde,  Naomi,  Byron  M.,  Dewey  and  Margaret. 
A stanch  Democrat  in  his  political  views,  Mr.  Thompson  is  an  active 
worker  in  the  interests  of  his  party.  He  is  a member  of  the  Ancient 
Order  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and  Lodge  No.  157,  B.  P.  0.  E.,  of 
Kenton. 

John  Power  Durbin,  who  died  at  his  home  in  the  village  of 
Foraker,  Hardin  county,  on  the  11th  of  April,  1905,  was  one  of  the  suc- 
cessful business  men  and  honored  citizens  of  this  county,  and  he  had 
much  to  do  with  the  development  and  upbuilding  of  the  village  of 
Foraker,  where  he  opened  the  first  mercantile  establishment  and  where 
he  continued  to  be  actively  engaged  in  business  for  nearly  a quarter  of 
a century.  He  served  as  a gallant  soldier  of  the  Union  in  the  Civil 
war  and  as  a citizen  and  business  man  he  showed  the  same  loyalty  that 
prompted  him  to  thus  go  forth  in  defense  of  the  integrity  of  the  nation. 
His  entire  life  was  ordered  upon  a high  plane  of  integrity  and  honor, 
and  at  all  times  were  vouchsafed  to  him  the  fullest  measure  of  popular 
confidence  and  esteem.  He  was  a native  of  Ohio  and  a scion  of  one  of 
the  honored  pioneer  families  of  the  old  Buckeye  state,  on  which  score 
further  interest  attaches  to  his  career  as  one  of  the  represntative  citizens 
of  Hardin  County. 

John  Power  Durbin  was  born  in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  on  the  4th  of 
January,  1844,  and  was  a son  of  Rev.  John  and  Sarah  (Bradic)  Durbin, 
of  whose  seven  daughters  and  five  sons  he  was  the  youngest  son.  One 
brother  and  three  sisters  are  still  living : Samuel  is  a representative 

farmer  and  influential  citizen  of  Allen  county,  this  state ; and  the  three 
sisters  are  married  and  reside  in  Ohio.  Rev.  John  Durbin  was  a clergy- 
man of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  did  effective  service  in  the 
same  for  many  years.  He  also  became  the  owner  of  a good  farm  in 
Knox  county,  which  was  the  place  of  his  birth,  and  there  he  continued  to 
reside  until'  his  death.  His  wife  died  before  the  subject  of  this  memoir 
had  attained  to  years  of  maturity.  John  P.  Durbin  was  reared  on  the 
home  farm. and  secured  a good  common  school  education.  He  continued 
to  be  associated  with  the  work  of  the  farm  until  the  climacteric  period 
of  the  Civil  war,  when  he  tendered  his  aid  in  defense  of  the  Union.  He 
enlisted  in  a regiment  of  volunteer  infantry  raised  in  his  home  county 
and  with  the  same  proceeded  to  the  front.  He  was  severely  wounded  in 
the  battle  of  Vicksburg,  and  by  reason  of  the  disability  thus  entailed 
he  was  given  an  honorable  discharge.  He  returned  to  his  home  and  after 
recuperation  re-enlisted,  becoming  a member  of  the  Twentieth  Ohio 
Volunteer  Infantry,  with  which  command  he  continued  in  active  service 
until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  with  which  he  participated  in  many  of 
the  important  battles  marking  the  progress  of  the  great  fratracidal 
conflict.  He  ever  manifested  a deep  interest  in  his  old  comrades  and 
signified  the  same  by  his  membership  in  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Durbin  came  to  Ilardin  county,  where 
he  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  When  the  attractions  of  the  great 
Kansas  prairies  were  exploited  in  the  early  days,  he  removed  to  that 
state,  where  he  secured  a tract  of  land  and  began  farming.  Like  many 

Vol.  11—14 


654 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


others  of  the  early  settlers  he  met  with  much  loss  through  the  depreda- 
tions of  the  grasshoppers  and  encountered  other  discouraging  conditions, 
so  that  he  finally  left  the  Sunflower  state  and  made  his  way  back  to  Ohio. 
His  resources  were  so  reduced  that  he  found  it  expedient  to  make  the 
major  portion  of  the  journey  on  a freight  train.  He  returned  to  Hardin 
county  and  located  in  Kenton,  where  he  soon  afterward  became  associated 
with  Benjamin  Connor  in  the  opening  of  a general  store,  which  they 
conducted  under  partnership  alliance  for  some  time.  Mr.  Durbin  then 
disposed  of  his  interest  in  the  business  and  removed  to  the  embryonic 
village  of  Foraker,  as  he  had  the  prescience  to  realize  that  here  would 
eventually  be  developed  a good  trading  center.  He  erected  the  first 
store  building  in  the  village  and  here  he  continued  to  conduct  a general 
mercantile  enterprise  for  the  long  period  of  twenty-two  years.  He  was 
very  successful  and  built  up  a large  and  representative  trade,  extending 
throughout  the  fine  section  of  country  normally  tributary  to  the  village. 
He  made  also  judicious  investments  in  farm  land  in  this  county,  and  his 
widow  still  owns  one  farm  and  other  properties  in  the  village  in  McDon- 
ald township. 

Mr.  Durbin  was  loyal  and  progressive  as  a citizen  and  ever  gave  his 
influence  and  cooperation  in  the  promotion  of  enterprises  and  measures 
tending  to  advance  the  civic  and  maternal  welfare  of  the  community. 
While  never  ambitious  for  public  office,  he  was  an  uncompromising 
advocate  of  the  principles  and  policies  of  the  Republican  party  and,  as  a 
man  of  strong  mentality  and  broad  ken,  he  was  well  fortified  in  his 
opinions  and  convictions.  He  was  a charter  member  of  the  lodge  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  in  the  city  of  Kenton,  and  continued 
his  active  affiliations  with  this  fraternal  order  until  his  death.  He  was 
a zealous  and  consistent  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and 
contributed  most  liberally  to  the  erection  of  the  attractive  church  edifice 
of  this  denomination  in  Foraker.  He  was  also  one  of  the  principal 
contractors  in  the  building  of  this  church.  Mr.  Durbin  was  a man  of 
unassuming  personality,  but  his  sincerity,  loyalty  and  impregnable 
integrity  were  patent  to  all,  and  he  never  lacked  the  inviolable  confidence 
and  esteem  of  those  with  whom  he  came  in  contact  in  the  various  relations 
of  life.  He  was  true  to  himself  and  thus  could  not  “be  false  to  any 
man.’’  He  made  his  life  and  labors  count  for  good,  and  it  is  most 
consonant  that  in  this  history  of  the  county  that  so  long  represented 
his  home  should  be  incorporated  this  brief  tribute  to  his  memory. 

On  the  16th  of  November,  1 866,  Mr.  Durbin  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Harriet  Wetherell,  a daughter  of  one  of  the  sterling  pioneers  of 
Hardin  county,  and  of  this  union  were  born  two  sons  and  one  daughter. 
The  sons  died  in  infancy  and  the  daughter,  Maude,  is  now  the  wife  of 
W.  A.  Shoemaker,  of  Foraker.  Mrs.  Durbin,  a woman  of  gracious  and 
gentle  personality,  was  summoned  to  the  life  eternal  on  the  25th  of 
March,  1895,  at  the  age  of  forty-six  years. 

On  the  24th  of  December,  1899,  Mr.  Durbin  contracted  a second 
marriage,  being  then  united  to  Mrs.  Loretta  Emmons,  who  was  born  and 
reared  in  Hardin  county  and  who  is  a daughter  of  John  and  Mary 
(Crooks)  Condon,  both  of  whom  were  born  in  Richland  county,  this 


HISTORY  OF  IIARDIN  COUNTY 


655  . 


state,  being  members  of  sterling  pioneer  families  of  that  section  of  the 
state.  Mr.  Condon  and  his  wife  now  reside  in  Wyandot  county,  where 
he  is  a prosperous  farmer  and  influential  citizen.  Mrs.  Durbin  is  the 
eldest  of  the  five  children,  all  of  whom  are  living:  Irving,  John  and 
Purl  are  all  successful  representatives  of  the  agricultural  industry  in 
Wyandot  county,  this  state,  and  Sarah  remains  at  the  parental  home. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Durbin  became  the  parents  of  one  son,  Jay  Paul,  who  was 
born  on  the  8th  of  November,  1900,  and  who  proves  a devoted  little  com- 
panion to  his  widowed  mother.  Mrs.  Durbin  has  shown  much  adminis- 
trative and  executive  ability  as  a business  woman  and  since  the  death 
of  her  honored  husband  she  has  most  effectively  managed  the  estate, 
besides  which  she  serves  as  postmaster  at  Foraker,  in  which  office  she 
succeeded  her  husband,  who  had  been  incumbent  of  the  office  for  many 
years,  gives  a general  supervision  to  her  farming  interests  and  other 
properties.  In  the  midst  of  these  exactions  she  also  takes  a deep  and 
active  interest  in  church  work  and  is  especially  prominent  in  the  affairs 
of  the  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union,  in  which  she  has  given 
much  service  as  a devoted  worker.  She  is  well  known  to  the  leading 
members  of  this  noble  organization  and  is  one  of  the  thirty  delegates  from 
Ohio  to  the  world’s  convention  of  the  same,  in  Glasgow,  Scotland, 
beginning  on  the  4th  of  June,  1910.  She  is  a woman  of  fine  intellectual 
and  social  gifts,  of  most  gracious  and  winning  personality,  and  her 
circle  of  friends  is  limited  only  by  that  of  her  acquaintance.  In  ad- 
dition to  her  interests  in  Hardin  county  she  is  the  owner  of  a valuable 
ranch  in  Colfax  county,  New  Mexico,  and  there  she  passes  more  or  less 
time  each  year,  finding  recreation  and  also  giving  her  personal  super- 
vision to  the  direction  of  the  work.  She  is  one  of  the  most  zealous 
and  devoted  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  Foraker  and 
is  a leader  in  various  departments  of  its  collateral  benevolences  and 
charities.  . 

On  November  16.  1882.  Mrs.  Durbin  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Louis  Emmons  only  son  of  Jackson  and  Sarah  Emmons,  one  of  the  most 
prominent  families  of  Hardin  county.  To  this  union  two  daughters 
were  born  both  are  married,  Lelia  the  older,  married  Ray  Oglesbee,  a 
prominent  citizen  of  Foraker  where  they  reside,  Mozelle  the  younger 
married  W.  W.  Born  of  Kenton,  who  has  been  manager  of  the  Western 
Union  Telegraph  office  for  fourteen  years.  Louis  Emmons  died  April 
2,  1896,  aged  forty  years. 

Alfred  G.  Wessling,  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  Kenton, 
Ohio,  and  the  state  manager  of  the  American  Farm  Produce  Company, 
was  born  in  Chicago,  Illinois,  August  16,  1869,  and  is  a son  of  Henry 
and  Wilhelmina  (Muehltke)  Wessling.  His  father  was  a native  of  Lake 
county,  Illinois,  born  about  twenty  miles  distant  from  the  city  of  Chi- 
cago, and  after  his  marriage  became  a resident  of  the  city,  engaging 
in  the  occupation  of  teamster.  He  died  in  1883,  and  his  widow  still 
resides  in  Chicago.  Mrs.  Wessling  was  born  at  Deerfield.  Illinois.  Henrv 
Wessling  and  his  wife  had  seven  children,  of  whom  Alfred  G.  is  the 
fourth  in  order  of  birth  and  the  second  son. 


656 


HISTORY  OF  IIARDIN  COUNTY 


The  boyhood  of  Alfred  O.  Wessling  was  spent  in  Chicago,  where 
he  attended  the  public  schools.  He  located  in  Kenton,  Ohio,  in  1890, 
and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  butter  and  cheese,  whiche  he  con- 
tinued until  1905,  when  lie  sold  out  to  the  American  Farm  Produce 
Company,  becoming  the  firm’s  state  manager.  He  is  the  owner  of  the 
Scioto  Valley  Stock  Farm,  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres,  located 
six  miles  east  of  Kenton,  where  he  raises  thoroughbred  Holstein  cattle, 
having  one  hundred  and  twelve  head  at  the  present  time.  He  owns  two 
other  farms  in  the  same  locality,  and  raises  the  grain  to  feed  his  stock. 
He  is  an  able  business  man,  and  conducts  his  farms  in  the  same  able  and 
profitable  manner  he  does  his  other  affairs. 

On  April  9,  1890,  Mr.  Wessling  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  G. 
A.  Wendt,  of  Chicago,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Maybell.  Mr.  Wess- 
ling is  a prominent  Mason,  having  taken  thirty-two  degrees  in  the  order, 
and  is  affiliated  with  the  Shrine,  Knight  Templars,  etc.  He  is  also  a mem- 
ber of  Lodge  No.  157,  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  He  is  a 
trustee  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Kenton,  and  politically  is 
a Republican.  He  served  five  years  as  a member  of  the  board  of  educa- 
tion, and  takes  an  active  interest  in  public  affairs.  He  is  well  known  in 
the  vicinity  of  Kenton,  his  business  connections  making  it  necessary  for 
him  to  meet  many  people,  and  all  who  have  done  business  with  him  have 
had  occasion  to  feel  satisfied  with  his  uprightness  and  integrity. 

Dr.  George  J.  Carter. — Conspicuous  among  the  leading  business 
men  of  Kenton  is  Dr.  G.  J.  Carter,  president  of  the  Champion  Iron  Com- 
pany, who  is  a self-made  man  in  every  sense  implied  by  the  term  and 
especially  worthy  of  representation  in  a work  of  this  character.  He  was 
born  October  9,  1853,  in  Lenawee  county,  Michigan.  Ilis  father,  Richard 
Carter,  emigrated  from  Ireland  to  the  United  States  when  young,  settling 
in  Michigan,  where  he  married  Mary  Boutton,  who  was  born,  of  Scotch- 
English  parentage,  in  Michigan. 

Beginning  the  battle  of  life  for  himself  at  the  early  age  of  ten 
years,  G.  J.  Carter  did  chores  for  his  board,  in  the  meantime  attending 
school.  At  the  age  of  twelve  years  he  went  to  Noble  county,  Indiana, 
where  he  secured  work  on  a farm  by  the  day  or  month,  with  the  priv- 
ilege of  attending  the  winter  terms  of  school.  In  the  winter  of  1869 
he  entered  the  employ  of  Dr.  A.  Gants,  of  Ligonier,  Indiana,  working 
for  his  board  and  clothes  and  attending  school  about  five  months  of  the 
year,  remaining  with  the  Doctor  until  1871.  Going  then  to  New  York 
state,  Mr.  Carter  obtained  work  on  a farm  in  Camden,  Oneida  county, 
where  he  attended  school  a part  of  the  time,  the  remainder  of  the  year 
being  employed  in  the  woods  or  in  a saw  mill.  A diligent,  faithful 
student,  he  obtained  a good  education,  and  in  the  winter  of  1872  and  1873 
he  taught  school  in  Indiana,  and  in  the  latter  year  began  the  study  of 
dentistry  at  Ligonier,  Indiana,  remaining  there  until  1875.  Entering 
then  the  dental  department  of  the  University  of  Michigan  at  Ann  Arbor, 
Mr.  Carter  completed  the  course  being  graduated  in  June,  1876.  Locat- 
ing immediately  in  Kenton,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  Dr.  Carter  was  here 
successfully  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  until  August, 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


657 


1890,  when  he  was  made  secretary  of  the  Champion  Iron  Company.  Serv- 
ing ably  in  that  capacity,  he  was  elected  president  of  the  company  in 
1894,  and  has  since  been  influentially  promoting  its  interests,  it  being 
now  one  of  the  leading  industrial  organizations  of  the  county.  By  his 
untiring  industry,  sagacity,  and  wise  investments,  Dr.  Carter  has  accum- 
ulated a handsome  property  by  his  own  efforts,  owning  considerable 
real  estate  of  value  and  two  fine  farms. 

Dr.  Carter  married,  in  1876,  Pyrena  Pancake,  a native  of  Ligonier, 
Indiana.  She  passed  to  the  higher  life  in  1902,  leaving  three  children, 
namely : Lloyd  D.,  Ida  and  Clara.  The  Doctor  is  a member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  in  which  he  has  taken  the  Knights  Templar  degree.  An 
active  member  of  the  Republican  party,  he  has  held  various  municipal 
offices,  having  been  a member  of  the  Kenton  School  Board  twelve  years 
and  a member  of  the  Equalization  Board  in  1900. 

Clarence  M.  Cessna. — A cultivated  and  highly  talented  man,  well 
versed  in  the  intricacies  of  law,  Clarence  M.  Cessna,  of  Kenton,  is  well 
known  as  one  of  the  active  and  able  lawyers  of  Hardin  county.  A native 
of  this  county,  he  was  born,  June  29,  1872,  in  Cessna  township,  a son 
of  Zaceheus  Cessna,  and  grandson  of  William  Cessna,  who  came  from 
Pennsylvania  to  Ohio  in  1835,  and  at  once  located,  as  a pioneer  settler, 
in  Holmes  county  and  later  in  the  same  year  moved  to  Hardin  county, 
taking  up  land  in  Cessna  township. 

Born  in  Pennsylvania,  Zaceheus  Cessna  was  but  nine  months  old 
when  brought  by  his  parents  to  Cessna  township.  He  was  there  brought 
up  and  educated,  and  in  course  of  time  became  one  of  the  prominent 
farmers  of  that  locality,  living  there  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
when  he  was  fifty-eight  years  of  age.  He  married  Mary  M.  Hagerman, 
who  was  born  in  Richland  county,  Ohio,  a daughter  of  Samuel  Hager- 
man, one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  this  state.  She  survived  her  husband, 
and  now  resides  in  Kenton.  Of  the  family  of  ten  children,  five  sons 
and  five  daughters,  born  of  their  union,  all  but  one  grew  to  years  of 
maturity,  C.  M.,  the  special  subject  of  this  sketch,  being  the  seventh  child, 
and  third  son  in  succession  of  birth. 

After  leaving  the  common  schools,  C.  M.  Cessna  attended  the  Ohio 
Northern  University  at  Ada,  and  subsequently  taught  school  awhile,  in 
the  meantime  reading  law.  A diligent  and  intelligent  scholar,  at  the 
end  of  three  years,  in  1899,  he  was  admitted  to  the  Ohio  bar,  and  at 
once  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Toledo,  where  he  remained 
until  1902.  Coming  then  to  Kenton,  Mr.  Cessna  has  since  been  actively 
identified  with  the  best  interests  of  this  city,  and  as  junior  member  of  the 
well-known  firm  of  Stickle  & Cessna  has  carried  on  an  extensive  and 
lucrative  legal  practice.  Fraternally  Mr.  Cessna  is  a member  of  the 
Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and  politically  he  is  a firm  supporter 
of  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party.  He  is  ever  interested  in  every- 
thing pertaining  to  the  welfare  of  the  general  public,  and  as  mayor  of 
Kenton  for  one  term,  beginning  in  January,  1906,  rendered  excellent 
service  to  his  fellow  citizens. 

Mr.  Cessna  married,  February  26,  1900,  Lula  Whitmore,  daughter 


658 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


of  John  and  Jane  Whitmore,  Hardin  county,  and  into  their  pleasant 
home  two  children  have  been  born,  namely : Dwight  C.  and  Clara  G. 

Hon.  W.  T.  Cessna,  formerly  a prominent  attorney  and  business 
man  and  now  living  in  Kenton,  Ohio,  retired  from  active  life,  is  supposed 
to  be  the  first  white  child  now  living  born  in  the  county,  his  birth  occur- 
ring August  7,  1836.  He  is  a son  of  Jonathan  Cessna,  a native  of 
Bedford  county,  Pennsylvania,  who  came  to  Hardin  county  first  in  1829, 
returned  to  Pennsylvania  and  brought  his  family  in  1833,  locating  two 
and  a half  miles  west  of  what  is  now  the  county  seat.  He  was  a judge 
seven  years  and  was  very  active  in  public  affairs.  Jonathan’s  father, 
also  named  Jonathan  Cessna,  was  of  Huguenot  descent. 

Jonathan  Cessna,  father  of  W.  T.,  married  Catherine  Boore,  a 
native  of  Cumberland  valley,  Pennsylvania,  and  they  became  the  parents 
of  ten  children,  five  sons  and  five  daughters,  W.  T.  being  the  eighth 
child.  His  boyhood  days  were  spent  in  his  native  place,  and  he  re- 
ceived his  earliest  education  in  a log  sehoolhouse  west  of  Kenton.  Later 
lie  attended  the  Kenton  schools  and  attended  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  Uni- 
versity at  Delaware,  Ohio,  graduating  in  1861,  in  the  regular  course. 
He  entered  Company  A,  Eighty-second  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry  as  a 
private,  was  promoted  to  sergeant,  second  lieutenant,  first  lieutenant, 
and  adjutant  of  the  regiment  in  the  Eastern  army.  Receiving  his 
honorable  discharge  in  1863,  he  returned  home  and  in  the  winter  of 
1864  he  entered  law  school  at  Ann  Arbor,  Michigan,  and  the  following 
year  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Kenton.  In  1865  Mr.  Cessna  was  elected 
to  the  office  of  mayor  of  the  city  of  Kenton,  and  reelected  in  1866.  Mr. 
Cessna  practised  law  with  good  success  for  twenty  years.  In  1869  he 
was  elected  to  the  legislature,  serving  two  years,  and  in  1871  was  a 
candidate  for  nomination  for  the  office  of  secretary  of  the  state,  endorsed 
by  the  Ohio  legislature,  and  was  a candidate  for  the  state  senate.  In 
1880  he  was  again  elected  mayor  of  Kenton,  serving  with  efficiency  and 
distinction.  During  his  administration  the  water  works  were  installed 
in  the  city. 

Mr.  Cessna  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  influential  citizens  of 
Hardin  county,  and  the  citizens  have  delighted  to  proffer  him  the  highest 
honors  within  their  gift,  and  in  every  office  of  public  trust  he  has 
acquitted  himself  well,  to  the  satisfaction  of  all.  He  is  one  of  the  most 
highly  esteemed  men  in  Kenton,  and  has  taken  a prominent  part  in  the 
public  affairs  of  the  city.  In  1882  Mr.  Cessna  was  elected  president  of 
the  Pioneers’  Association  of  Hardin  county,  and  erected  the  pioneer 
cabin  on  the  fair  grounds.  About  this  time  he  was  appointed  colonel 
of  the  Ohio  National  Guards  (the  Seventh  Ohio)  ; he  was  also  colonel  of 
the  Ohio  State  Militia.  Mr.  Cessna  has  been  closely  identified  with 
building  up  the  town  of  Kenton,  and  has  favored  and  assisted  every 
movement  for  the  public  welfare. 

In  1873  W.  T.  Cessna  married  Alice  Teeters,  a native  of  Hardin 
county,  daughter  of  Alonzo  Teeters  and  a graduate  of  Glendale  College, 
and  member  of  a prominent  family.  She  died  August  9,  1887. 

In  1890  W.  T.  Cessna  went  to  Chicago  and  for  some  time  dealt  in 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


659 


real  estate,  in  the  building  up  of  what  is  now  known  as  West  Hammond, 
remaining  there  five  years.  He  was  then  elected  president  of  the 
Colorado  & Cripple  Creek  Mining  Companies,  also  president  of  two  other 
mining  companies  situated  in  Montana,  also  became  vice  president  of  the 
Big  Tin  Company,  whose  mine  was  located  near  Helena.  He  spent  ten 
years  in  the  mountains  of  Montana,  and  was  also  in  the  mining  business 
in  New  Mexico  about  four  years,  then  became  candidate  for  the  legis- 
lature from  Grant  and  Luna  counties,  New  Mexico,  and  delivered  the 
declaration  address  at  Port  Bayard  in  1894,  also  several  lectures  at  the 
normal  school  in  New  Mexico. 

Among  the  work  which  Mr.  Cessna  has  done  for  the  benefit  of  his 
native  county  is  the  legislation  he  put  through  while  serving  in  the 
legislature  for  the  drainage  of  Hog  Creek  Marsh  in  Hardin  county.  He 
fathered  the  bill  to  issue  bonds  for  the  erection  of  the  Ohio  Northern 
University  at  Ada.  He  organized  a syndicate  for  the  drainage  of  the 
Scioto  Marsh  and  first  thought  of  carrying  through  this  project  in  the 
manner  adopted.  For  many  years  he  has  served  as  president  of  Hardin 
County  Democratic  Club. 

James  R.  Hill. — Among  the  successful  farmers  of  Roundhead 
township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  who  have  now  retired  from  active  life 
is  James  R.  Hill,  a native  of  the  township,  born  December  18,  1835,  a 
son  of  James  and  Elizabeth  (Richards)  Hill.  James  Hill  was  born  in 
Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  June  2,  1805,  and  his  father,  also  named  James, 
was  a native  of  Maryland,  who  lived  to  the  venerable  age  of  ninety-nine 
years.  In  1810  James  Hill,  Sr.,  moved  to  Logan  county,  and  between 
1830  and  1833  located  in  Roundhead  township,  Hardin  county.  Here 
he  spent  the  remainder  -of  his  life,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  buried  in 
Pleasant  Hill  cemetery. 

James  Hill,  Jr.,  was  married  three  times  and  was  father  of  ten 
children.  He  was  reared  on  a farm  and  became  a successful  farmei 
himself,  helping  his  father  clear  the  home  farm  and  attending  school 
winters  when  he  was  a lad.  He  received  his  earlier  education  in  the 
country  schools,  and  then  devoted  the  remainder  of  his  life  to  farming. 
He  is  also  buried  in  Pleasant  Hill  cemetery. 

The  childhood  of  James  R.  Hill  was  spent  on  a farm,  and  lie  helped 
his  father  develop  the  farm,  attending  school  winters,  and  as  his  father 
had  done  before  him.  He  received  his  earlier  education  in  the  country 
schools  and  then  attended  school  in  Bellefontaine,  Ohio.  He  engaged 
in  teaching  in  the  common  schools  and  later  engaged  in  farming,  to 
which  he  has  since  devoted  his  entire  time. 

On  October  4,  1860,  Mr.  Hill  married  Marietta  "White,  who  bore 
him  two  children : one  who  died  in  infancy,  and  Luella,  wife  of  Robert 
Ford,  of  Iowa.  Mrs.  Hill  died  November  12,  1868,  and  on  September 
18,  1870,  Mr.  Hill  married  Elizabeth  Goslee,  who  was  born  in  Hardin 
county,  December  2,  1845,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  Ann  (Kenton) 
Goslee.  To  this  union  six  children  have  been  born,  namely:  two  who 
died  in  infancy;  James  V.,  a student  from  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  one  of 
the  commissioners  of  Hardin  county ; Effie  A. ; Bessie,  a teacher  in 


660 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Allen  county,  Ohio;  and  John  G.,  formerly  a teacher  and  now  living  at 
home.  All  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Pleasant 
Hill,  where  Mr.  Hill  is  one  of  the  trustees.  He  has  for  many  years 
been  an  active  worker  in  the  church  and  Sunday  school,  and  has  been 
class  leader  and  superintendent.  Politically  he  is  a supporter  of  the 
principles  of  the  Democratic  party.  He  is  a great  worker  in  the  cause 
of  temperance,  and  helps  along  any  movement  for  the  public  welfare. 
He  is  a man  of  stability  and  public  influence,  highly  respected  and 
universally  liked. 

Mr.  Hill  owns  one  hundred  and  ninety  acres  of  land  in  Roundhead 
township,  but  has  retired  from  active  farming  and  leaves  the  work  in 
charge  of  his  son,  John  G.,  who  is  a young  man  of  energy  and  industry. 

Frank  L.  Damon. — A well  known,  public  spirited  and  influential 
citizen  of  Kenton,  Frank  L.  Damon,  the  leading  furniture  and  carpet 
dealer  of  this  part  of  Hardin  county,  is  carrying  on  a business  that  was 
first  established  in  1835  by  his  grandfather,  Luther  Damon,  and  later 
conducted  by  his  father,  Warren  F.  Damon,  whom  he  succeeded.  A 
native  of  this  city,  he  was  born  February  10,  1865,  coming  on  both  sides 
of  the  house  from  honored  New  England  ancestry. 

Born  in  Massachusetts,  Warren  F.  Damon  was  but  two  years  of  age 
when,  in  1835,  he  was  brought  by  his  parents  to  Hardin  county.  He 
was  brought  up  in  Kenton,  acquiring  his  education  in  the  public  schools. 
Succeeding  to  the  business  established  by  his  father,  he  continued  here 
as  an  undertaker  and  a furniture  dealer  until  his  death,  at  the  age  of 
fifty-four  years.  He  married  Dorothy  S.  Dicus,  who  was  born  in  New 
Hampshire  seventy-eight  years  ago,  and  is  now  a resident  of  Kenton. 
Her  father,  Timothy  Dicus,  migrated  from  his  New  England  home  to 
Ohio  when  she  was  about  nine  years  old,  locating  in  Hardin  county, 
where  he  bought  land,  and  from  the  dense  forest  cleared  and  improved 
a farm.  Of  the  five  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Warren  F.  Damon 
but  two  survive,  namely:  Mrs.  C.  W.  Oakes,  of  Indianapolis,  Indiana; 
and  Frank  L.,  the  special  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Obtaining  a practical  education  in  the  public  schools,  Frank  L. 
Damon  early  became  familiar  with  the  details  of  business  pursuits,  and 
in  1882,  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years,  assumed  the  entire  charge  of  the 
undertaking  and  furniture  business  established  by  his  grandfather,  he 
being  in  the  third  generation  to  conduct  this,  the  longest-established 
business  in  Kenton.  Fraternally  Mr.  Damon  stands  very  high  in  the 
Masonic  order,  being  a Scottish  Rite  Mason  and  a Knight  Templar.  He 
likewise  belongs  to  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  He  is 
active  in  the  Republican  ranks,  and  takes  an  intelligent  interest  in 
municipal  affairs,  having  served  for  twelve  years  in  official  capacities, 
first  as  a member  of  the  water  works  board  and  later  on  the  board  of 
public  service.  During  his  term  of  office  many  improvements  of  value 
were  established,  including  the  paving  of  the  streets,  which  was  of  in- 
estimable value  to  the  citizens. 

Mr.  Damon  married  in  1887  Mary  E.  Weaver,  a daughter  of  N.  S. 
and  Mary  A.  Weaver. 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


661 


J.  W.  Caine. — Among  the  business  enterprises  of  Kenton  that  have 
helped  so  materially  in  the  progress  and  development  of  the  city,  the 
establishment  of  Nourse  & Caine,  appropriately  located  on  Detroit  street, 
stands  well  in  the  front  rank.  The  house  carries  a general  line  of  dry 
goods  and  notions,  and  the  firm  enjoys  a good  patronage,  not  only 
from  the  residents  of  Kenton  but  from  the  people  of  the  surrounding 
country.  The  members  of  the  firm  are  J.  W.  Caine  and  D.  B.  Nourse. 

Mr.  Caine  was  born  in  Somerset,  Perry  county,  December  13,  1860, 
and  is  a son  of  Isaiah  and  Caroline  C.  (Campbell)  Caine,  both  natives  of 
Ohio,  who  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  in  Perry  county.  The 
family  of  Mrs.  Caine  came  from  Baltimore,  Maryland,  and  Mr.  Caine’s 
people  were  from  the  east  and  of  Irish  descent.  J.  W.  Caine  is  the 
seventh  son  and  child  of  his  parents,  and  was  reared  and  educated  in  his 
native  place,  receiving  a good  education  in  the  common  schools.  At  the 
age  of  sixteen  years  he  began  working  as  clerk  in  a general  store  at 
Somerset.  He  worked  in  a retail  store  until  January,  1881,  and  then 
engaged  with  a jobbing  house  at  Columbus.  Ohio,  spending  about  twenty 
years  traveling  as  salesman.  He  spent  two  years  in  the  dry  goods 
business  at  Effingham.  Illinois,  then  returned  to  the  road,  and  continued 
as  a traveling  salesman  until  1901,  when  he  located  in  Kenton  and 
formed  a partnership  with  Mr.  Nourse,  They  employ  about  thirty 
people,  and  have  one  of  the  most  modern  and  complete  establishments  of 
its  kind  in  their  part  of  the  state.  They  carry  a good  stock  and  study 
well  the  wants  of  their  patrons.  Mr.  Caine  is  one  of  the  leading  and 
most  influential  citizens  of  Kenton,  and  in  his  business  dealings  has 
always  exhibited  the  strictest  honesty  and  integrity.  He  favors  the 
highest  principles  and  is  well  liked  as  well  as  respected  by  all  who  know 
him. 

In  1891  Mr.  Caine  married  Hattie  Levitt,  daughter  of  Abram  and 
Magdalene  (Kuhns)  Levitt. 

Albert  M.  Tidd,  attorney  at  law,  Kenton,  Ohio,  belongs  to  a family 
that  has  been  identified  with  this  locality  since  before  Hardin  county 
existed ; a family  that  has  never  sought  prominence,  but  without  ostenta- 
tion of  any  kind  has  quietly  contributed  to  the  substantial  growth  and 
development  of  the  county.  The  Tidds  have  paid  many  thousands  of 
dollars  in  taxes  and  have  contributed  to  the  work  of  building  roads, 
drainage  systems,  and  other  public  improvements,  and  they  refer  with 
pride  to  the  fact  that  the  first  white  girl  baby  born  in  the  county  was  a 
Tidd — a daughter  of  Samuel  Tidd.  Samuel  Tidd’s  settlement  here 
was  in  1821,  and  his  first  land  purchase  was  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres, 
which  has  remained  in  the  family  for  four  generations,  the  old  farm 
having  been  added  to  until  it  now  contains  three  hundred  acres. 

Hugh  Hill  Tidd,  one  of  the  sons  of  Samuel  and  father  of  Albert  M., 
was  born  in  1813,  on  a farm  near  Bellefontaine  in  Logan  countv,  Ohio, 
and  was  brought  by  his  parents  to  what  is  now  Hardin  county  in  1821. 
Here  he  grew  to  manhood  and  reared  a large  family.  He  was  twice 
married.  His  first  wife,  Mary  (Given)  Tidd,  was  a native  of 
Ross  county,  Ohio,  and  a sister  of  Alexander  Given,  who  was  well  known 


662 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


in  Hardin  county.  By  this  marriage  there  were  eight  children,  all  of 
whom,  with  one  exception,  reached  adult  age,  Albert  M.  being  the  seventh 
child  and  sixth  son. 

Albert  M.  Tidd  was  born  at  Roundhead,  Hardin  county,  April  14, 
1851.  He  received  his  early  education  in  the  country  schools,  later 
took  the  scientific  course  at  Ada,  Ohio,  and  spent  two  years  in  the 
National  Normal  School  at  Lebanon,  this  state.  And  as  the  foundation 
for  his  subsequent  work  he  had  the  experience  of  five  years  as  teacher  in 
the  schools  of  Hardin  county.  While  teaching  he  spent  his  vacations 
in  the  study  of  law,  and  in  1876  at  Bellefontaine  was  admitted  to  the  bar. 

• At  this  time  he  took  up  his  residence  at  Marion,  Ohio,  and  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession,  in  connection  with  which  he  found  time  for 
newspaper  work,  in  which  he  has  always  been  more  or  less  interested. 
While  at  Marion  he  was  correspondent  for  a number  of  Ohio  publica- 
tions including  the  Cincinnati  Gazette  and  Commercial,  Cleveland 
Herald  and  Columbus  Journal.  After  a residence  of  twelve  years  at 
Marion  he  went  west  and  spent  six  months  in  Kansas  City  and  six 
months  in  Atchison,  Kansas.  While  at  the  former  place  he  established 
and  edited  a daily  paper,  The  Evening  Leader,  which  he  sold  when  he 
went  to  Atchison.  He  also  practiced  law  in  Kansas.  After  a year 
spent  there  he  returned  to  Kenton,  Ohio,  which  has  since  been  his  home, 
and  where  he  lias  practiced  his  profession  and  in  various  other  ways 
been  actively  identified  with  the  town.  Among  his  newspaper  work 
may  be  mentioned  a long  article  entitled  “Kenton,  a Thriving  City,” 
published  some  years  ago  in  the  Kenton  Democrat,  and  he  wrote  most 
of  the  History  of  Marion  County  Ohio,  published  about  twenty-five  years 
ago.  He  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in  politics,  and  for  five 
years  was  secretary  of  the  Republican  Committee  of  Hardin  county. 

Mr.  Tidd  married,  in  1884,  Miss  Virginia  V.  Nagle,  a daughter  of 
Henry  and  Asenith  Nagle.  She,  too,  is  a native  of  Hardin  county  and 
her  family  were  prominent  in  its  early  history.  Her  father  built  the 
first  brick  house  in  Roundhead  township.  They  have  two  sons,  Clifton 
H.  and  Kenneth  N.,  the  former  assistant  manager  of  a branch  of  the 
Huber  Manufacturing  Company,  of  Marion,  Ohio;  the  latter,  engaged  in 
the  shoe  business. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Tidd  has  been  an  active  and  influential  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  serving  in  various  official  capacities 
in  the  church  at  Kenton,  and  for  the  past  twelve  years  has  filled  the 
office  of  treasurer. 

William  J.  Geliiaus. — Among  the  enterprising  and  highly  re- 
spected citizens  of  Kenton,  Ohio,  is  William  J.  Gelhaus,  chief  of  the  fire 
department  of  the  city.  Mr.  Gelhaus  was  born  in  Lee  county,  Illinois, 
May  4,  1858,  and  is  a son  of  August  and  Catherine  (Beltz)  Gelhaus, 
natives  of  Germany.  August  Gelhaus  was  a native  of  Hessen,  Germany, 
and  came  to  America  as  a young  man.  He  was  a cabinet-maker  by 
trade,  and  engaged  in  constructing  pianos  and  billiard  tables.  About 
1855  he  moved  to  Illinois  and  engaged  in  farming.  About  1863  he 
removed  to  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  near 


JANE  E.  DUNLAP  AND  MARVIN  DUNLAP 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


663 


Kenton,  where  he  remained  until  1867,  when  he  engaged  in  the  grocery 
business  as  a member  of  the  firm  of  Davis  & G-elhaus ; he  followed  this 
business  until  about  1879,  and  then  retired.  He  died  in  1880,  at  the 
age  of  fifty  years.  His  wife,  also  a native  of  Germany,  died  in  1870,  at 
the  age  of  forty-four  years.  They  were  the  parents  of  nine  children, 
of  whom  five  are  now  living,  William  J.  being  the  fifth  in  order  of  birth. 

Mr.  Gelhaus  was  about  five  years  of  age  at  the  time  his  parents 
located  at  Kenton,  Ohio,  where  he  received  his  education.  When  eigh- 
teen years  of  age  he  became  connected  with  the  Kenton  Fire  Department, 
then  made  up  of  volunteers  in  the  service.  He  bcame  assistant  captain 
and  in  1883,  at  the  time  of  the  reorganization  of  the  department,  he 
became  captain,  holding  that  position  until  1893,  when  he  assumed  his 
present  position  at  the  head  of  the  department ; he  has  held  this  position 
a number  of  years  now,  and  has  rendered  the  city  very  efficient  service. 

On  February  13,  1882,  Mr.  Gelhaus  married  Amelia  Terres,  a native 
of  Seneca  county,  Ohio,  and  reared  in  Hardin  county  from  the  time  she 
was  eight  years  of  age.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gelhaus  have  four  children, 
namely : Eugene  F.,  Laura,  Cleo  and  Clealus. 

Mr.  Gelhaus  has  always  taken  an  active  part  in  public  affairs,  and  is 
an  ardent  Democrat.  He  is  well  known  in  Hardin  county,  and  is  held 
in  the  highest  esteem  by  all.  being  one  of  the  representative  citizens  of 
Kenton.  He  and  his  family  belong  to  the  Catholic  church. 

Mrs.  Jane  E.  Dunlap. — Among  the  enterprising  and  highly  suc- 
cessful business  women  of  Roundhead  township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio, 
is  Mrs.  Jane  E.  Dunlap,  widow  of  the  late  Marvin  Dunlap,  who  passed 
away  February  8,  1892..  Since  the  death  of  her  husband  Mrs.  Dunlap 
has  successfully  eared  for  her  own  interests,  and  owns  two  hundred  acres 
of  rich  farming  land.  Mrs.  Dunlap  was  born  in  Roundhead  township 
June  19,  1837,  a daughter  of  Rev.  David  and  Sarah  (Sheets)  Groves. 
Rev.  Groves  was  a local  minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  who 
was  born  in  Culpeper  county,  Virginia,  and  moved  from  there  to  Ohio. 
The  young  girl  was  reared  on  a farm,  and  when  old  enough  attended  the 
district  school  of  her  neighborhood,  making  such  good  use  of  her 
opportunities  and  abilities  that  she  was  able  to  teach  school,  which  she 
continued  a few  years  before  her  marriage. 

In  1857  Jane  Groves  married  Marvin  Dunlap,  who  was  a native  of 
Ireland  and  is  a brother  of  John  A.  Dunlap.  He  came  to  the  United 
States  when  a boy  seven  years  old.  He  became  a successful  farmer  and 
was  well  liked  wherever  known.  He  was  honest  and  industrious,  and 
made  his  own  way  in  the  world.  Mr.  Dunlap  was  a member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Pleasant  Hill,  where  he  was  a class 
leader,  and  his  widow  is  now  an  active  worker  in  the  same  church.  He 
was  a member  of  the  Masonic  order,  and  politically  supported  the 
principles  of  the  Republican  party. 

Mr.  Dunlap  and  his  wife  became  the  parents  of  four  children,  as 
follows : Laura,  deceased,  wife  of  William  Lehman ; Burke,  deceased ; 

Eunice,  wife  of  Ed.  Stuck,  of  Marion  township;  and  John,  who  married 
Mrs.  Anna  Wier  and  resides  near  the  home  farm  at  Harrod  Ohio. 


664 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Mr.  Ed.  Stuck  is  in  charge  of  the  home  place.  He  is  a public-spirited, 
useful  citizen  and  is  now  serving  as  one  of  the  trustees  of  Roundhead 
township.  The  farm  is  in  good  condition  and  its  appearance  attests  to 
its  able  management.  There  are  two  hundred  acres  of  land  in  the 
home  place. 

William  Wendt. — Kenton,  Ohio,  is  the  location  of  many  flourishing 
manufacturing  concerns,  and  among  the  enterprising  men  at  the  head  of 
the  same  is  William  Wendt,  who  is  manager  of  the  Harris  Brick  Mills 
and  Elevator.  Mr.  Wendt  was  born  in  Coldspring,  Kentucky,  October 
26,  1861,  a son  of  Fred  and  Fanny  (Worth)  Wendt,  the  former  a 
native  of  Germany  and  the  latter  of  Switzerland.  Fred  Wendt  came 
to  America  as  a young  man,  locating  first  in  New  Jersey  and  then  in 
Kentucky;  he  was  a millwright  by  occupation,  having  learned  the  trade 
in  his  native  country.  He  died  at  the  age  of  ninety-four  years.  His 
widow  survives  him,  now  a resident*  of  Newport,  Kentucky,  and  has 
reached  the  age  of  ninety-four  years.  She  came  to  America  as  a girl 
and  was  married  at  Newark,  New  Jersey,  in  1836.  They  were  the 
parents  of  eleven  children,  all  of  whom  reached  maturity,  and  William 
is  the  youngest  of  the  family. 

William  Wendt  spent  his  boyhood  days  in  Kentucky  and  he  attended 
school  at  Newport,  graduating  from  the  high  school  in  1878;  later 
he  attended  Queen  City  Commercial  College,  from  which  he  gradu- 
ated in  1879.  He  came  to  Kenton,  Ohio,  in  1884,  assuming  the  position 
of  teller  in  the  Kenton  National  Bank,  which  position  he  held  twelve 
years.  He  then  engaged  in  the  milling  and  grain  business,  and  took  his 
present  position.  Mr.  Wendt  is  an  intelligent,  wide-awake  business 
man,  and  understands  thoroughly  every  branch  of  the  enterprises  under 
his  control.  His  natural  ability  and  wide  experience  place  him  among 
the  leading  business  men  of  Kenton. 

In  1896  Mr.  Wendt  married  Mabel  Harris,  daughter  of  G.  II.  and 
Margaret  (Letson)  Harris,  a native  of  Hardin  county.  Mr.  Wendt  and 
his  wife  have  one  son,  Harris.  Mr.  Wendt  is  a Republican  and  actively 
interested  in  public  affairs;  he  served  one  term  as  councilman-at-large. 
He  is  a member  of  the  Masonic  order  and  of  Lodge  No.  157,  Benevolent 
and  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  He  has  been  a resident  of  Kenton  some 
twenty-five  years,  and  takes  great  interest  in  its  progress  and  welfare. 
At  the  celebration  of  his  parents’  golden  wedding  in  1886  the  entire 
family  was  present,  as  at  that  time  no  deaths  had  been  recorded. 

James  IT.  Allen,  cashier  of  the  Kenton  National  Bank,  is  a man  of 
sterling  integrity  and  character,  and  holds  a place  of  prominence  among 
the  leading  citizens  of  Hardin  county.  A son  of  Hezekiah  and  Polly 
Allen,  he  was  born  January  22,  1859,  at  Geneseo,  Livingston  county, 
New  York.  His  grandfather,  John  Allen,  a native  of  Loraine,  Jefferson 
county,  New  York,  was  of  English  descent,  Hezekiah  Allen  was  born, 
bred  and  educated  in  Jefferson  county,  New  York.  Subsequently  lo- 
cating in  Geneseo,  New  York,  where  he  lived  for  over  fifty  years,  he 
became  attorney  of  the  Wadsworth  estate  and  was  a resident  of  Geneseo 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


665 


until  his  death  in  July,  1887,  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven  years.  To  him 
and  his  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Polly  Deniston,  of  Groveland,  New 
York,  three  children  were  born,  one  of  whom  died  in  infancy;  one  daugh- 
ter, Elizabeth,  now  Mrs.  R.  B.  Vallaner,  lives  at  Geneseo.  New  York; 
and  James  H.  Allen,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Completing  his  early  education  at  the  Geneseo  State  Normal  School, 
James  H.  Allen  early  developed  much  business  and  executive  ability. 
In  June,  1886,  he  came  to  Kenton,  Ohio,  and  with  Asher  Letson  and 
Nathan  Ahlefeld  assisted  in  organizing  the  Kenton  National  Bank,  Mr. 
Asher  Letson  being  elected  its  first  president,  Nathan  Ahlefeld  its  vice 
president  and  Curtis  Wilkin,  cashier,  and  Mr.  James  H.  Allen,  bookkeeper 
and  assistant  cashier.  He  held  this  office  until  May  9,  1902,  when  he  was 
elected  cashier,  a position  which  he  has  since  filled  with  great  ability  and 
fidelity. 

Mr.  James  H.  Allen  married,  June  15,  1887,  Hattie  C.  Gray,  a daugh- 
ter of  Richard  and  Mary  Gray  of  Geneseo,  New  York,  and  they  are  the 
parents  of  two  children,  James  H.  Allen,  Jr.,  and  Howard  Gray  Allen, 
who  is  now  associated  with  his  father  as  paying  teller  at  the  KentoL 
National  Bank.  Mr.  James  H.  Allen  stands  high  in  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity, being  a thirty-second  degree  Mason  and  a Shriner.  He  has 
filled  the  office  of  high  priest  in  the  Chapter,  thrice  illustrious  master  in 
the  Council  and  eminent  commander  of  Kenton  Commandery  No.  58, 
Knights  Templar.  In  the  year  1906  he  was  very  active  in  the  building 
of  the  new  Masonic  Temple,  and  was  one  of  the  first  trustees  of  the 
Masonic  Temple  Association  and  was  a member  of  that  board  for  several 
years.  He  is  also  a member  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order 
of  Elks,  in  which  he  is  a past  exalted  ruler.  Religiously  Mr.  Allen  is 
a member  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church. 

John  IT.  Smick. — One  of  the  prominent  lawyers  of  Kenton.  John 
H.  Smick,  has  been  actively  employed  in  the  practice  of  his  profession 
for  thirty-four  consecutive  years  in  Hardin  county,  for  two  terms  serv- 
ing as  its  prosecuting  attorney.  A son  of  the  late  Solomon  S.  Smick, 
he  was  born,  January  29,  1848,  in  Canton,  Stark  county,  Ohio. 

Solomon  S.  Smick  was  born,  reared  and  educated  in  Stark  county, 
for  many  years  being  a resident  of  Canton.  He  moved  to  Fort  Wayne, 
Indiana,  in  1864,  and  was  there  prosperously  employed  in  the  agricul- 
tural implement  business  until  his  death  in  1894,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
eight  years.  He  married  Margaret  Petcher,  who  was  born  at  Emmits- 
burg,  Maryland,  and  came  with  her  parents  to  Stark  county,  Ohio,  about 
1832.  She  is  now  a venerable  and  highly  respected  woman  of  eighty 
nine  years,  living  at  her  home  in  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana.  Three  children 
were  born  to  her  and  her  husband,  as  follows:  John  H.,  the  special 

subject  of  this  brief  biographical  sketch;  Manford  M.,  of  Fort  Wayne, 
Indiana ; and  William  P.,  of  the  same  city. 

Receiving  his  early  education  in  the  union  schools  of  Canton.  John 
H.  Smick  when  a boy  of  sixteen  years  enlisted,  in  1864,  in  the  Second 
Ohio  Cavalry,  which  was  assigned  to  Custer’s  Division  of  Sheridan’s 
Army,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  In  1867  he  located  in  Ada, 


666 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Hardin  county,  becoming  the  manager  of  his  father’s  saw  mill.  Taking 
up  the  study  of  law  he  acquired  a good  knowledge  of  legal  matters,  and 
in  1875  was  admitted  to  the  Ohio  bar.  Opening  a law  office  in  Ada,  he 
met  with  well  merited  success,  and  in  1879  was  elected  prosecuting 
attorney  for  Hardin  county,  and  served  with  such  ability  that  in  1881  he 
was  reelected  to  the  same  position,  and  filled  the  office  a second  term  of 
three  years,  during  the  entire  time  residing  in  Kenton,  where  he  removed 
on  his  election  as  prosecuting  attorney  in  1879.  Continuing  his  resi- 
dence in  this  city,  Mr.  Smick  has  since  continued  in  his  professional 
labors,  and,  by  means  of  his  acknowledged  skill,  close  attention  to  the 
interests  of  his  clients,  and  his  unblemished  character,  has  built  up  a 
large  and  remunerative  practice.  On  January  1,  1895,  Mr.  Smick 
formed  a partnerhip  with  Mr.  Hamilton  E.  Hoge  in  the  practice  of  law. 
which  partnership  still  continues.  The  office  of  this  firm  is  and  has 
been  for  many  years  located  over  the  First  National  Bank  of  Kenton. 

Mr.  Smick  married,  January  8,  1869,  Hannah  Eckenrode,  and  they 
are  the  parents  of  four  children,  namely : Stanton,  of  Chicago,  Illinois ; 
Mary  E.,  living  at  home;  Anna  Lawrence,  of  Fitchburg,  Massachusetts; 
and  Bessie,  living  with  her  sister  Anna  in  Fitchburg.  Fraternally  Mr. 
Smick  is  a member  of  Latham  Lodge  No.  154,  F.  & A.  M.,  of  Kenton  and 
of  Cantwell  Post,  No.  97,  G.  A.  R.  Politically  he  is  a valued  member 
of  the  Republican  party,  and  while  in  Ada  served  as  mayor  of  the  city. 
As  a member  of  the  Ada  school  board  he  was  prominent  in  the  erection 
of  the  second  school  building  for  the  college  at  that  place. 

John  B.  Seymour. — A man  of  pronounced  financial  and  executive 
ability  and  tact,  John  B.  Seymour  has  long  been  an  important  factor  in 
advancing  the  mercantile  interests  of  Hardin  county,  being  the  leading 
grain  buyer  and  shipper  of  both  Foraker  and  Kenton,  his  residence  being 
in  Kenton.  A son  of  the  late  William  Henry  Seymour,  he  was  born, 
January  2,  1849,  in  Huron  county,  Ohio,  where  his  paternal  grandparents 
Avere  pioneer  settlers. 

A native  of  Pennsylvania,  William  Henry  Seymour  was  a child 
when  his  parents  settled  in  Huron  county,  Ohio,  where  he  Avas  bred  and 
educated.  Coming  from  there  to  Hardin  county  in  1850,  he  was  here 
employed  in  mercantile  pursuits  until  1876,  when,  in  partnership  with 
his  son,  John  B.,  he  embarked  in  the  grain  business  in  Kenton.  He 
built  up  a substantial  trade  as  a buyer  and  seller,  continuing  it  until  his 
retirement  from  active  business  affairs  in  1893.  He  still  resides  in 
Kenton,  a venerable  man  of  eighty-eight  years,  enjoying  a well  deserved 
leisure.  Fraternally  he  belongs  to  the  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  and  religiously  he  is  a prominent  and  valued  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  in  which  he  has  for  many  years  been  an  elder. 
For  upwards  of  forty  years  he  was  in  active  business  in  Hardin  county, 
throughout  which  he  had  an  extensive  acquaintance.  He  married 
Eliza  Bemis,  avIio  was  born  in  Ohio,  in  Erie  county,  where  her  father 
Elijah  Bemis,  settled  on  coming  to  this  state  from  NeAv  York  state.  She 
died  in  1891,  at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years,  leaving  four  children,  namely: 
Eliza  M.,  widow  of  the  late  0.  E.  LeAvis,  of  Boston,  Massachusetts;  John 


RACHEL  S.  DEMPSTER  ALEXANDER  DEMPSTER 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


667 


B.,  the  special  subject  of  this  sketch;  Hattie,  wife  of  Joseph  Timmons,  of 
Kenton  ; and  William  G.,  a resident  of  Boston. 

But  a year  old  when  his  parents  settled  in  Hardin  county,  John  B. 
Seymour  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Patterson,  living  there 
until  eighteen  years  of  age.  Going  then  to  Illinois,  he  spent  seven  years 
in  Chicago,  employed  as  a clerk  in  a hardware  establishment,  from  there 
going  to  Areola,  where  for  two  years  he  was  engaged  in  mercantile 
pursuits.  Returning  to  Hardin  county  in  1876,  Mr.  Seymour,  in 
company  with  his  father,  established  himself  in  the  grain  and  produce 
business  at  Kenton,  and  in  the  time  that  has  since  elapsed  has  built  up  a 
substantial  trade,  which  he  has  managed  alone  since  the  retirement  of 
his  father  from  active  pursuits.  He  has  two  large  elevators,  one  at 
Kenton  having  a capacity  of  forty  thousand  bushels,  and  one  at  Foraker 
holding  about  fifteen  thousand  bushels.  He  has  large  warehouses  and 
other  necessary  equipments,  his  Foraker  plant  alone  being  valued  at 
twenty  thousand  dollars.  He  also  has  a large  onion  business  at  Foraker, 
being  among  the  heaviest  buyers  and  shippers  of  that  crop  in  the  state, 
handling  annually  from  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  to  two  hundred 
thousand  bushels. 

Mr.  Seymour  married,  August  18,  1872,  Pauline  Hevm,  who  was 
born  in  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin,  a daughter  of  J.  Adam  Heym,  a soldier 
in  the  Civil  war,  and  of  his  wife,  Jane  Heym,  neither  of  whom  are  now 
living.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Seymour  have  no  children  of  their  own,  but  have 
an  adopted  son,  Leslie  George,  with  Mr.  Seymour.  Fraternally  Mr. 
Seymour  is  very  prominent  in  the  Masonic  order,  which  he  joined  in 
1875,  belonging  to  lodge,  chapter,  council  and  commandery,  and  has 
taken  the  thirty-second  degree  in  Masonry,  the  highest  excepting  the 
thirty-third  degree,  which  is  honorary.  Politically  he  is  a stanch  sup- 
porter of  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party. 

Mrs.  Rachel  S.  Dempster. — One  of  the  most  highly  respected  resi- 
dents of  Roundhead  township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  is  Mrs.  Rachel  S. 
Dempster,  widow  of  Alexander  Dempster,  who  passed  away  at  the  home 
where  she  now  resides,  December  27,  1888,  in  the  prime  of  life.  Mrs. 
Dempster  was  born  in  Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  in  March,  1844,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Susanna  (Mulholland)  Dunlap.  Her  parents 
are  given  further  mention  in  connection  with  the  sketch  of  her  brother, 
James  R.  Dunlap,  found  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Mr.  Dunlap  and  his 
family  came  to  Hardin  county  in  the  fall  of  1846,  and  the  daughter  was 
reared  on  a farm,  attending  the  public  school  and  learning  to  assist  in 
household  duties.  She  grew  to  womanhood  in  the  county,  and  was 
married,  September  8,  1868,  to  Alexander  Dempster,  a son  of  John  W. 
and  a brother  of  Robert  A.  and  W.  P.  Dempster.  Mr.  Dempster  and  his 
wife  moved  on  a farm  after  their  marriage,  and  there  the  family  have 
lived  since.  He  became  a successful  farmer  and  gained  an  influential 
place  in  the  neighborhood,  being  a man  of  high  character  and  good  busi- 
ness principles,  but  was  cut  off  in  the  flower  of  his  manhood,  leaving  a 
widow  and  several  children.  Mr.  Dempster  was  a prominent  member  of 
the  Pleasant  Hill  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  where  his  widow  is  now  a 
member.  He  was  born  in  1841. 


668 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


After  the  death  of  her  husband  Mrs.  Dempster  took  the  management 
of  the  farm  into  her  hands  and  reared  her  children,  keeping  up  the 
home  and  giving  her  little  ones  the  best  education  within  her  power. 
She  owns  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Roundhead  township.  She  is  an 
energetic,  intelligent,  able  business  woman,  and  has  done  her  duty  in  all 
things. 

Mr.  Dempster  and  his  wife  became  the  parents  of  children  as 
follows:  John,  who  lives  in  Lima;  Joe,  who  is  with  his  mother  on  the 
home  place ; and  Thorne,  who  also  lives  in  Lima,  Ohio. 

Dr.  Irvin  A.  Wynn. — Among  the  prominent  professional  men  of 
Hardin  county,  Ohio,  is  Irvin  A.  Wynn,  D.  V.  S.,  living  in  Kenton. 
Dr.  Wynn  was  born  in  Campbelford,  Northumberland  county,  Canada, 
December  30,  1863,  and  is  a son  of  George  S.  and  Matilda  (Cryderman) 
Wynn,  both  natives  of  Canada,  who  were  pioneers  of  Northumberland 
county.  Mr.  Wynn  was  a blacksmith  by  trade  and  an  enterprising, 
ambitious  business  man.  In  1863  he  moved  to  Union  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  filled  a contract  for  getting  out  ties  for  a broad  gauge  railroad 
then  being  constructed,  which  later  became  a part  of  the  Baltimore  & 
Ohio  system.  A few  years  later  he  removed  with  his  family  to  Logan 
county,  where  he  now  resides,  at  the  age  of  seventy -three  years.  His 
wife  died  in  1890,  aged  fifty-two.  Dr.  Wynn  has  one  sister  living,  Rosa, 
wife  of  Clarence  Crueller,  of  Logan  county.  Dr.  Wynn  is  the  only  one 
of  the  family  now  residing  in  Hardin  county. 

The  boyhood  days  of  Dr.  Wynn  were  spent  in  Logan  county,  Ohio, 
and  there  he  received  his  early  education.  He  learned  the  blacksmith 
trade  with  his  father  and  followed  the  same  thirteen  years,  during  which 
time  he  spent  one  year  in  the  grocery  business.  In  1890  he  began  the 
study  of  veterinary  surgery  at  Toronto,  Canada,  graduated  from  the 
course,  and  also  graduated  from  the  Ohio  Veterinary  College  at  Cincin- 
nati, and  located  in  Kenton  in  1895.  In  1897  Dr.  Wynn  established  a 
veterinary  hospital,  and  for  five  years  he  conducted  a livery  business. 
Dr.  Wynn’s  is  the  leading  institution  of  the  kind  in  the  county,  and  he 
has  many  calls  for  his  skill.  He  is  a thorough  master  of  his  profession, 
and  is  one  of  the  enterprising  citizens  of  Kenton.  Dr.  Wynn  is  es- 
tablishing the  Win-ner  Chemical  Company  at  Kenton,  its  object  being  to 
manufacture  a number  of  different  preparations  for  the  use  of  veterinary 
surgeons,  which  he  confidently  believes  will  meet  with  success.  He  is 
one  of  the  most  progressive  men  among  his  profession  and  keeps  thor- 
oughly abreast  of  the  times.  lie  is  a member  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.  the  K.  of 
P.  and  Lodge  No.  157.  B.  P.  0.  E. 

In  1886  Dr.  Wynn  married  Jennie  L.  McCurdy,  daughter  of  James 
and  Sarah  McCurdy,  of  Huntsville,  Logan  county.  This  union  has 
been  blessed  by  one  son,  Homer  C. 

John  A.  Baird.— Among  the  prominent  business  men  of  Kenton, 
Ohio,  is  John  A.  Baird,  president  and  general  manager  of  the  Kenton 
Creamery.  Mr.  Baird  was  born  in  Kane  county,  Illinois,  August  23, 
1861,  a son  of  Hugh  and  Mary  (Petes)  Baird,  both  natives  of  Ireland. 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


669 


The  father  came  to  America  when  a young  man,  and  by  occupation  was 
a farmer.  Tie  carried  on  farming  first  in  Kane  county,  Illinois,  and 
later  in  Ionia  county,  Michigan,  where  he  cleared  a farm,  and  died  there 
when  about  seventy-five  years  of  age.  Mrs.  Baird  came  to  the  United 
States  as  a young  girl ; she  is  still  living  in  Michigan.  They  were  the 
parents  of  three  sons  and  one  daughter,  of  whom  John  A.  is  the  oldest. 

John  A.  Baird  was  a baby  when  his  parents  took  him  to  Michigan, 
where  he  spent  his  boyhood.  lie  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  and  remained  at  home  until  he  reached  his  majority.  He  then 
removed  to  Kane  county,  Illinois,  where  he  learned  the  blittermaking 
industry,  working  near  Elgin  for  a time ; later  he  became  manager  of  a 
creamery  at  Kokomo,  Indiana,  where  he  remained  some  time,  proceeding 
from  there  to  Ovid,  Michigan.  He  located  in  Kenton,  Ohio,  in  1886, 
working  two  months,  and  then  purchasing  a half  interest  in  the  business. 
In  the  spring  of  1888  he  purchased  the  entire  business,  and  when  the 
concern  became  incorporated,  in  1903  Mr.  Baird  assumed  his  present 
position  at  .the  head  of  the  business.  B.  F.  Deneston  is  secretary  and 
William  Lawrence,  vice  president,  and  the  firm  is  established  on  a good 
foundation  and  doing  a splendid  business.  They  manufacture  butter 
of  a superior  quality,  which  is  disposed  of  in  wholesale  lots.  Their  out- 
put is  some  five  hundred  thousand  pounds  a year;  they  have  a fine  cold 
storage  plant,  and  their  machinery  is  the  most  modern  and  complete,  the 
factory  being  one  of  the  best  in  the  state  of  Ohio.  Mr.  Baird  is  thor- 
oughly acquainted  with  every  detail  of  the  business,  and  besides  being 
an  efficient  buttermaker,  has  great  executive  ability  and  business  acumen 
being  able  to  carry  on  the  affairs  of  the  concern  with  a degree  of  success 
that  is  very  gratifying  to  himself  and  the  other  stockholders. 

In  1885  Mr.  Baird  married  Mary  E.  Iloldridge  of  Ovicl,  Michigan. 
Mr.  Baird  is  a member  of  the  Masonic  order,  being  affiliated  with  the 
Blue  Lodge,  Chapter,  Council,  Commanclery  and  Aladdin  Temple,  of 
Columbus,  and  the  U.  C.  T.,  also  Lodge  No.  157,  Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks.  He  is  a public-spirited,  useful  citizen,  and  has 
been  for  about  fifteen  years  a member  of  the  county  election  board. 
Politically  he  is  a supporter  of  the  Democratic  party.  He  is  well  known 
in  the  vicinity  of  Kenton,  and  universally  esteemed. 

Colonel  Luther  Furney. — With  a life  prolonged  to  the  patriarchal 
age  of  nearly  ninety  years,  Colonel  Luther  Furney,  one  of  the  most 
honored  pioneers  and  revered  citizens  of  Hardin  county,  could  peer  down 
the  dim  vista  of  years  and  find  his  memory  an  indissoluble  line  in  the 
chain  that  links  the  remote  pioneer  past  with  the  twentieth  century  of 
opulent  prosperity  and  progress.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  the  city  of  Kenton  on  the  17th  of  February,  1910,  he  was  the 
most  venerable  citizen  of  Hardin  county,  and  the  family  name  has  been 
identified  with  the  annals  of  the  state  of  Ohio  for  fully  a century. 
Colonel  Furney  was  a man  of  broad  mental  ken,  of  exalted  integrity  of 
character  and  of  distinctive  business  ability.  He  long  played  an  im- 
portant part  in  connection  with  the  civic  and  business  affairs  of  Hardin 
county  and  especially  of  his  home  city  of  Kenton ; lie  served  with  dis- 
Vol.  11—15 


670 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


tinction  as  one  of  the  gallant  defenders  of  our  national  integrity  in  the 
Civil  war ; and  when,  in  the  fulness  of  years  and  well  earned  honors,  he 
was  summoned  to  the  life  eternal,  he  left  the  heritage  of  worthy  thoughts 
and  worthy  deeds.  His  memory  will  long  remain  in  reverent  esteem  on 
the  part  of  those  who  knew  him  within  any  period  of  his  prolonged  and 
useful  life,  and  in  this  history  of  Hardin  county  it  is  most  fitting  that 
there  be  incorporated  a tribute  to  one  whose  life  counted  for  good  in  all 
its  relations. 

Colonel  Luther  Furney  was  born  at  Petersburg,  Mahoning  county, 
Ohio,  on  the  6th  of  October,  1822,  at  which  time  Mahoning  county  was 
still  an  integral  part  of  Columbiana  county.  He  was  a son  of  William 
and  Christina  (Lepley)  Furney,  the  former  of  whom  was  a native  of 
Winchester,  Virginia,  and  the  latter  of  the  state  of  Pennsylvania. 
William  Furney  came  to  Ohio  soon  after  the  admission  of  the  state  to 
the  federal  Union,  having  taken  up  his  residence  in  Columbiana  county 
about  the  year  1810,  in  the  locality  now  known  as  Mahoning  county, 
and  there  he  remained  until  1833,  when  he  removed  with  his  family  to 
Hardin  county,  arriving  at  his  destination  on  the  20th  of  June,  at  which 
time  the  subject  of  this  memoir  was  a lad  of  about  ten  years.  At  that 
early  date  there  were  only  three  families  permanently  settled  in  this 
entire  vicinity,  and  William  Furney  erected  the  very  first  house  on  the 
site  of  the  present  thriving  little  city  of  Kenton.  A gunsmith  by  trade, 
the  father  established  a little  shop,  and  he  merits  recognition  as  having 
been  the  first,  business  man  of  Kenton,  even  as  was  he  one  of  its  most 
honored  and  influential  citizens  until  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was 
one  of  the  first  hotel  men  of  Hardin  county,  having  erected  the  Mansion 
House,  for  many  years  one  of  the  landmarks  of  the  county,  and  having 
conducted  the  same  for  a number  of  years.  This  was  the  first  hotel 
building  in  Kenton.  William  Furney  was  sixty  years  of  age  at  the 
time  of  his  death.  The  original  orthography  of  the  name  was  Forney, 
and  he  changed  the  same  to  the  present  form  after  taking  up  his  resi- 
dence in  Hardin  county.  His  father,  Lewis  Forney,  was  a native  of 
Virginia,  where  the  family  was  founded  in  the  colonial  days,  and 
became  one  of  the  sterling  pioneers  of  Ohio.  The  wife  of  William 
Furney  was  eighty-four  years  of  age  when  she  was  summoned  to  the 
life  eternal,  and  of  their  five  children  only  two  attained  to  years  of 
maturity.  Colonel  Furney  having  been  the  youngest  of  the  number  and 
having  long  survived  all  other  members  of  the  immediate  family. 

Colonel  Furney  was  reared  under  the  conditions  and  influences  of 
the  pioneer  era,  and  lived  up  to  the  full  tension  of  its  strenuous  labors 
and  its  vicssitudes.  His  early  educational  training  was  limited,  owing 
to  the  exigencies  of  time  and  place,  and  the  major  part  of  his  scholastic 
training  was  secured  in  the  primitive  schools  of  the  little  hamlet  of 
Kenton.  Concerning  his  early  experiences  the  following  pertinent 
statements  have  been  made.  He  chopped  trees  and  cleared  a considera- 
ble portion  of  the  land  on  which  the  city  of  Kenton  now  stands,  including 
the  site  of  the  present  postoffice,  as  well  as  those  of  the  Weaver  House 
and  several  other  of  the  principal  buildings  in  the  business  center.  He 
finally  returned  to  Mahoning  county,  where  he  attended  school  for  an 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


671 


interval,  and  later  he  made  his  way  down  the  Mississippi  river  to  Island 
No.  Forty,  where  he  chopped  eordwood  for  steamboats,  receiving  as  his 
compensation  thirty-seven  cents  a cord.  From  that  place  he  went 
further  down  the  river  and  purchased  a fishing  outfit,  paying  for  the 
same  with  the  fish  he  secured.  In  later  years  he  reverted  with  much 
satisfaction  to  his  experience  in  this  connection  and  recalled  to  his 
listeners  that  he  incidentally  captured  one  catfish  that  weighed  one 
hundred  and  sixty-five  pounds. 

In  April  1844,  Colonel  Furney  proceeded  to  New  Orleans,  where 
he  invested  a considearble  portion  of  his  earnings  in  a finer  suit  of 
clothes  than  he  had  ever  before  been  able  to  indulge.  With  his  treas- 
ured habiliments  he  then  set  forth  for  his  home  in  Ohio.  After  arriving 
in  Columbiana  county  he  was  detained  four  weeks  by  illness,  and  he 
later  passed  one  week  in  Trumbull  county,  whence  he  proceeded  by 
canal  to  Cleveland  and  on  to  Sandusky.  The  Mad  River  & Erie  Rail- 
road had  been  completed  to  Tiffin  and  by  means  of  this  line  he  was 
transported  to  the  latter  point,  from  which  he  made  his  way  to  Kenton, 
walking  a considerable  portion  of  the  distance.  Upon  his  return  to  his 
home  town  he  became  associated  with  his  father  in  the  hotel  business, 
and  he  also  conducted  a general  store  in  one  of  the  rooms  of  the  hotel 
building.  After  the  retirement  of  his  father  Colonel  Furney  individ- 
ually continued  the  hotel  business  for  a number  of  years. 

At  the  inception  of  the  Civil  war  Colonel  Furney  was  one  of  the 
first  to  respond  to  President  Lincoln’s  first  call  for  volunteers,  and  he 
was  the  first  to  write  his  name  on  the  volunteer  list  of  the  first  company 
organized  in  Kenton.  He  was  virtually  the  organizer  of  this  company, 
with  which  he  proceeded  to  Columbus,  and  after  drilling  one  week  at 
Camp  Denison  the  company  proceeded  to  the  front.  Colonel  Furney 
returned  to  Kenton  and  here  succeeded  in  raising  another  company, 
which  was  mustered  in  as  Company  D,  Thirty-fourth  Ohio  Volunteer 
Infantry,  and  of  which  he  was  chosen  captain.  Colonel  Sanders  Piatt 
had  command  of  this  regiment.  The  regiment  went  into  service  in 
West  Virginia,  being  stationed  the  major  part  of  the  time  at  Charleston. 
In  .4863  Captain  Furney  received  commission  as  major  of  his  regiment, 
and  one  year  later  he  was  raised  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant  colonel,  in 
which  office  he  continued  his  gallant  service  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
participated  in  many  of  the  most  important  battles  marking  the  progress 
of  the  great  internecine  conflict,  and  was  in  the  thick  of  the  fight,  especial- 
ly in  the  famous  battles  of  Winchester,  Cedar  Creek,  Fisher  Hill  and 
Cloud  Mountain.  From  an  appreciative  article  published  in  a Kenton 
paper  at  the  time  of  the  death  of  Colonel  Furney  are  taken  the  following 
statements  relevant  to  his  military  career : ‘ ‘ An  interesting  account  is 
given  relative  to  the  day  preceding  the  battle  of  Cedar  Creek.  Colonel 
Furney  was  officer  of  the  day  and  late  in  the  afternoon  preceding  the 
battle  he  was  covering  the  camp  in  his  inspection  of  the  various  posts. 
He  rode  out  beyond  the  line  and  came  upon  a Confederate  soldier  boy. 
As  he  talked  with  the  boy  he  looked  in  the  direction  of  a distant  moun- 
tain, and  across  a path  he  saw  a file  of  rebel  soldiers  passing.  He 
realized  in  an  instant  what  it  meant.  He  hastened  to  the  tent  of  General 


672 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Wright  and  found  him  in  a slumbrous  condition  in  his  bunk.  He  told 
him  of  the  approach ; the  general  muttered  that  he  would  look  after  it, 
but  he  neglected  to  send  a scouting  party  of  cavalry,  as  Colonel  Furney 
had  suggested.  As  a result  of  this  failure  the  Union  men  were  sur- 
prised next  morning  by  the  Confederate  forces.  The  battle  of  Cedar 
Creek  followed,  and  fifteen  hundred  Union  men  were  taken  prisoner, 
among  them  Colonel  Furney.”  It  may  further  lie  stated  that  the 
Colonel  ever  maintained  a lively  interest  in  his  old  comrades  in  arms, 
signifying  the  same  by  his  membership  in  the  U.  V.  U.  S. 

After  the  close  of  his  long  and  valiant  service  as  a soldier  of  the 
Union,  Colonel  Furney  returned  to  Kenton,  where  he  purchased  a plan- 
ing mill,  which  he  therafter  operated  in  connection  with  a general 
lumber  business,  in  company  with  Bogarclis  Brothers,  until  about  1870, 
when  he  sold.  Later  he  erected  another  planing  mill,  on  the  site  of  the 
present  Callam  mill,  and  after  operating  the  same  for  seven  years  he 
sold  it  to  John  Callam  in  1875.  Colonel  Furney  engaged  in  the  retail 
grocery  business,  with  which  he  continued  to  be  identified  until  1895, 
when  he  retired  from  all  active  business  pursuits.  The  Furney  grocery 
was  located  on  the  present  site  of  the  handsome  brick  Furney  block. 
In  a reminiscent  way  it  may  be  stated  that  Colonel  Furney  was  in  the 
early  days  a carrier  on  the  star  mail  route  from  Upper  Sandusky  to  St. 
Mary’s  via  Kenton,  long  before  the  Lewistown  reservoir  was  built,  and 
was  a chain  boy  of  the  surveying  corps  when  the  Lima  pike  was  con- 
structed. 

Colonel  Furney  passed  the  closing  years  of  his  long  and  beneficent 
life  in  the  beautiful  home  he  had  erected  on  west  Franklin  street,  the 
house  having  been  planned  by  himself  and  his  devoted  wife  and  afforded 
to  him  a place  of  comfort  and  gracious  surroundings  during  the  grate- 
ful evening  of  his  life.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  the  most 
venerable  citizen  in  Hardin  county  and  had  lived  in  Kenton  for  a longer 
period  than  any  other  citizen.  He  was  one  of  the  oldest  members  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  in  this  section  of  Ohio,  having  joined 
the  Kenton  lodge  on  the  12th  of  April,  1847,  and  having  continued  his 
affiliation  until  his  death.  He  became  past  grand  of  his  lodge  on  the 
6th  of  January,  1850,  and  for  four  years  he  represented  his  district  in 
the  grand  lodge  of  the  state.  He  was  a charter  member  of  Scioto 
Encampment  No.  179,  and  also  of  Canton  Kenton,  No.  83,  Patriarchs 
Militant.  In  point  of  continuous  membership  in  one  lodge  he  was 
the  oldest  Odd  Fellow  in  Ohio,  having  been  a member  of  the  local  organi- 
zation in  Kenton  for  sixty-three  years.  He  was  also  identified  with 
the  Masonic  fraternity,  of  which  he  was  a member  for  thirty-six  years 
prior  to  his  demise. 

In  politics  Colonel  Furney  was  originally  a Whig,  and  he  identified 
himself  with  the  Republican  party  at  the  time  of  its  inception,  having 
been  one  of  its  organizers  in  Hardin  county  and  having  ever  thereafter 
continued  a stalwart  and  intelligent  advocate  of  its  principles  and  poli- 
cies. He  voted  for  every  Republican  presidential  candidate,  including 
President  Taft.  He  was  a zealous  and  consistent  member  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  church  of  Kenton,  as  is  also  his  venerable  widow,  and 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


673 


his  entire  life  was  filled  with  deep  human  sympathy  and  tolerance, 
was  marked  by  kindly  thoughts  and  kindly  deeds,  and  was  guided  and 
governed  by  the  highest  principles  of  integrity  and  honor. 

In  October,  1848,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Colonel  Furney 
to  Miss  Louisa  B.  Soule,  who  was  born  at  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania, 
whence  she  came  with  her  parents  to  Ohio  when  a child.  Of  the  three 
children  of  this  union  one  son  and  one  daughter  died  on  the  same  day,  of 
scarlet  fever,  the  son  having  been  four  and  the  daughter  two  years  of 
age.  The  only  surviving  child,  Melvus  G.,  is  one  of  the  representative 
business  men  and  honored  and  influential  citizens  of  Kenton,  which 
city  has  ever  been  his  home  and  in  which  he  is  now  successfully  engaged 
in  the  drug  business.  Colonel  and  Mrs.  Furney  walked  side  by  side  down 
the  pathway  of  life  for  a period  of  more  than  sixty-one  years,  and  cele- 
brated their  sixty-first  marriage  anniversary,  October  15,  1909.  They 
were  sustained  and  comforted  by  mutual  love  and  sympathy,  and  their 
married  life  was  of  idyllic  order.  In  her  bereavement  the  loved  and  ven- 
erable widow  finds  her  chief  solace  and  compensation  in  the  gracious  and 
hallowed  memories  and  associations  of  the  past,  and  to  her  is  accorded  the 
affectionate  regard  of  the  entire  community.  She  was  born  on  the 
11th  of  June,  1823,  and  is  a daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Porter) 
Soule,  who  passed  the  closing  years  of  their  lives  in  Kenton,  Ohio. 

Melvus  G.  Furney,  the  only  surviving  child  of  the  honored  subject 
of  this  memoir,  was  born  in  Kenton,  on  the  27  of  June,  1853,  and  was 
here  reared  to  manhood.  He  is  a loyal  and  progressive  citizen  and  is 
well  upholding  the  prestige  of  the  honored  name  which  he  bears.  He 
married  Miss  Mina  DeVoe,  and  they  have  seven  children. 

In  conclusion  is  entered  the  following  brief  tribute,  which  appeared 
in  a Kenton  paper  at  the  time  of  the  death  of  Colonel  Furney : ‘ ‘ Colonel 
Furney  was  one  of  the  oldest  business  men  of  Kenton.  While  he  lived 
he  was  the  pioneer  business  man  of  the  city.  All  of  the  people  who 
were  of  Kenton  when  he  first  resided  here  are  now  gone  from  among  the 
living.  He  was  the  lone  survivor  and  he,  the  last  link  between  the 
remote  past  and  the  present,  has  now  also  joined  the  fathers.  Colonel 
Furney  was  a man  of  more  than  ordinary  worth  to  his  community.  He 
was  a citizen  of  thrift,  economy,  straight  living  and  honorable  purpose. 
His  life  was  honest,  his  example  worthy  of  emulation.  His  long  years 
of  industry  and  Christian  service  won  for  him  late  years  of  peace  and 
happiness.  ’ ’ 


James  B.  Wickwire. — Now  in  his  seventy-eighth  year,  James  B. 
Wickwire,  the  substantial  farmer  who  is  the  proprietor  of  a fine  country 
place  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Blanchard  township,  is  still 
active  in  mind  and  body,  and  an  honor  to  his  well-ordered  life  and  his 
sturdy  ancestry.  His  farm  is  not  only  valuable  because  of  the  improve- 
ments which  he  has  been  adding  to  it  for  years,  but  because  of  the  recent 
tapping  of  a large  deposit  of  natural  gas  upon  his  land.  Mr.  Wickwire 
sunk  the  well  in  November,  1909,  to  a depth  of  1,443  feet,  and  struck  gas 
in  sufficient  quantities  to  fully  supply  his  place  with  heat  and  light, 
with  a surplus  to  meet  outside  demands  from  his  neighbors.  As  several 


G74 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


adjacent  estates  have  found  oil,  the  company  is  still  drilling  and  has 
every  reason  to  believe  that  they  will  strike  the  more  solid  deposit. 

Mr.  Wick  wire  has  resided  on  his  present  homestead  since  the  de- 
struction of  his  tannery  by  fire  in  1872 ; but  many  years  of  his  earlier 
life  were  passed  in  a pretty  constant  change  of  occupations  and  localities. 
He  is  therefore  a man  of  wide  practical  information  and  an  interesting, 
as  well  as  an  instructive  talker.  Since  settling  in  Hardin  county  he 
has  made  a few  trips  south,  east  and  west,  including  visits  to  Washing- 
ton, D.  C.,  to  the  World’s  Columbian  Exposition,  Chicago,  and  the 
World’s  Fair,  Buffalo,  and  also  to  Atlanta,  Georgia. 

James  B.  Wick  wire  is  a native  of  Ontario  county,  New  York,  where 
he  was  born  May  22,  1833,  a son  of  Seba  and  Nancy  (Duesler)  Wickwire. 
The  family  had  its  origin  in  Connecticut,  whither  it  moved  to  Ontario 
county  in  the  early  part  of  the  nineteenth  century  and,  in  1835,  to  York 
township,  Sandusky  county,  Ohio.  Seba  Wickwire,  who  thus  trans- 
ferred the  fortunes  of  the  family  to  the  Buckeye  state,  also  entered  a 
half  section  of  land  in  Delaware  township,  Hancock  county,  for  himself, 
and  a like  amount  for  his  brother-in-law.  His  first  purchase  in 
Sandusky  county  consisted  of  a “forty,’’  with  a log  cabin  upon  it,  and 
to  this  he  added,  as  the  years  passed,  until  he  was  the  owner  of  seven 
“forties”  lying  around  the  original  tract.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Seba  Wickwire 
became  the  parents  of  five  children,  besides  James  B.,  namely:  George 
and  William  (both  deceased)  ; Seba,  Lydia  (deceased)  and  Alfred. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  the  last-born  of  the  family,  lost  his 
mother  when  he  was  a young  boy,  and  he  also  had  the  misfortune  to 
have  his  sister  taken  from  him  soon  after  his  mother  passed  away.  His 
brothers  were  all  school  teachers  in  their  early  manhood  and  as  they 
married,  and  established  homes  of  their  own,  the  “baby  of  the  family” 
was  cared  for  with  true  fraternal  solicitude.  About  1849,  when  he  was 
sixteen  years  of  age,  he  first  attended  school  away  from  home,  at  Scipio 
(now  Republic) , Seneca  county,  Ohio.  He  then  enjoyed  a short 
schooling  at  Oberlin,  but  abandoned  his  studies  to  start  a general  store 
at  Green  Spring,  where  his  brother  William  had  established  himself  in 
business.  Prior  to  that  time  James  B.  had  served  as  a driver  on  the 
old  Miami  & Wabash  canal.  At  Green  Spring  he  tired  of  “steady 
business”  and  fitted  up  a Yankee  notion  rig,  with  which  he  started  west, 
selling  his  goods  on  the  way.  There  bis  brothers  George  and  William 
located  and  organized  the  Angola  Bank,  operating  the  institution  until 
their  death  and  passing  the  management  over  to  their  heirs.  Mr. 
Wickwire,  of  this  sketch,  taught  school  and  studied  medicine  for  a time, 
after  selling  his  peddler’s  outfit,  and  then  commenced  his  rovings 
through  Iowa  to  St.  Louis,  Kansas  City,  Fort  Leavenworth,  St.  J oe  and 
Omaha.  The  city  last  named  was  then  but  a rough  lumber  camp, 
surrounded  by  Indian  settlements.  The  young  man  staked  out  a claim 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  this  wild  western  country,  assisted  in 
laying  out  into  sections  what  are  now  twelve  Nebraska  counties  (then 
Washington  and  Burt),  and  helped  plat  Cuming  City  in  which  he 
invested  to  the  extent  of  a few  lots.  Until  the  fall  of  1859  he  drifted 
back  and  forth  between  Omaha  and  St.  Joe,  teaching  school  and  engaged 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


675 


in  various  lines  of  business,  when  he  returned  to  the  middle  west,  mar- 
ried and  went  into  partnership  with  his  brother  George  in  the  operation 
of  a meat  market  at  Angola,  Indiana. 

The  latter  venture  was  continued  until  April,  1864,  when  Mr. 
Wickwire,  with  three  friends!  started  for  Virginia  City,  Montana,  mak- 
ing the  trip  afoot  to  Waterloo.  The  party  took  train  to  Chicago,  where 
they  purchased  their  provisions,  and  then  started  for  Grinnell,  Iowa 
(whither  they  had  shipped  their  wagon),  which  at  that  time  was  the  end 
of  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad.  At  Davenport,  Mr.  Wickwire  and 
another  member  of  the  party  bought  the  oxen  for  the  trip,  and  drove 
them  to  Grinnell.  There  they  found  their  wagon ; but  their  provisions 
and  other  goods  never  arrived.  The  route  from  that  point  was  up  the 
Missouri  valley  to  Omaha,  where  a stop  of  two  weeks  was  made,  the 
outfit  of  the  party  being  completed  by  the  addition  of  two  cows  to  the 
livestock,  the  animals  being  purchased  from  the  proceeds  of  Mr.  Wick- 
wire’s  house  at  Cuming  City.  Buying  another  stock  of  provisions  at 
Omaha,  they  finally  started  for  Virginia  City.  Their  destination  was 
not  reached  without  a fatal  encounter  with  the  Indians,  which  occurred 
July  3,  1864,  near  the  scene  of  the  Custer  massacre.  They  had  joined 
other  emigrants  bound  for  Virginia  City,  and  in  the  two  hours’  battle 
with  the  fierce  Sioux  seven  were  killed  and  four  wounded.  The  bustling 
Montana  mining  camp  was  reached  August  23,  1864,  but  Mr.  Wickwire 
engaged  in  the  pack-train  business  for  about  two  months.  Then,  after 
a severe  spell  of  sickness  he  crossed  the  Rockies  into  Idaho,  and  worked 
in  the  gold  diggings  at  Idaho  City  and  other  points  until  the  summer  of 
1865.  In  the  fall  he  went  to  Oregon  City,  and  thence  took  passage  on 
a sailing  vessel  for  San  Francisco,  the  weather  being  such  that  this  trip 
vThich  usually  consumed  about  nine  days  occupied  twenty-four.  A 
month  or  so  was  passed  in  California,  when  Mr.  Wickwire  started  for 
New  York  City,  via  Nicaragua.  The  trip  through  the  Gulf  of  Mexico 
and  Atlantic  Ocean  was  commenced  at  Greytown,  and  the  only  really 
rough  weather  was  experienced  off  Cape  Hatteras.  New  York  harbor 
was  sighted  March  4,  1866,  and  the  long  voyage  was  at  an  end. 

Upon  reaching  Angola,  Mr.  Wickwire  found  that  his  wife  and  their 
son,  Jay,  were  at  Wauseon,  Ohio.  With  his  family  he  was  soon 
located  at  Dunkirk,  that  state,  where  he  had  purchased  a tannery.  His 
plant  was  burned  in  1872,  and  as  it  was  uninsured  the  financial  blow 
was  a hard  one ; but,  instead  of  repining,  he  at  once  built  a log  cabin 
on  his  tract  of  land  in  Blanchard  township,  this  county,  and  commenced 
to  establish  the  homestead  which  became  the  abiding  place  of  his  in- 
creasing family  and  which  he  has  developed  into  an  attractive  and 
valuable  country  place. 

On  February  1,  1860,  Mr.  Wickwire  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  M.  Ivezia  Williams  of  York  township,  Sandusky  county,  and  to 
them  have  been  born  the  following:  Jay  W.,  Lillian  (deceased),  Clara, 
Roy  (deceased),  Edith,  Cora  and  Maude.  Jay  W.  Wickwire  married 
Miss  Fannie  Miller,  December  14,  1907.  He  owns  eighty  acres  of  land 
near  his  father’s  farm.  The  daughter  Clara  first  married  J.  J.  Orth, 
who  died  in  1892  and  by  whom  she  had  a son,  II.  Clay  Orth.  She  is 


676 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


now  the  wife  of  A.  L.  Braden,  of  Upper  Sandusky,  Ohio.  Cora,  the 
sixth  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  B.  Wickwire,  married  Howard  Cotner, 
December  12,  1907,  and  their  son,  Bradford  was  born  July  14,  1909. 
Maude,  the  youngest  of  the  family  is  now  Mrs.  John  Baersche,  of  Dun- 
kirk, her  marriage  occurring  in  March,  1908.  It  may  be  added  that 
all  the  members  of  the  family  are  more  or  less  prominent  in  the  fraterni- 
ties. The  father,  James  B.,  joined  the  Masonic  order  in  1855,  and  his 
son,  Jay  W.,  is  a Mason  of  high  rank.  The  mother  and  daughters  are 
all  identified  with  the  Eastern  Star,  Cora  and  Maude  being  officers  in 
the  order. 

To  complete  the  genealogy  of  the  Wickwire  family  the  main  facts 
should  be  added  regarding  the  brothers  of  James  B.  George  married 
(first)  Loretta  Lemon,  by  whom  he  had  three  children,  and  (second) 
Rebecca  Hanna,  who  bore  him  seven — all  but  one  of  whom  are  living. 
William  married  Olivia  Crockett,  and  his  childless  widow  is  living  at 
Angola,  Indiana,  eighty-seven  years  of  age.  Seba,  who  is  a resident 
of  Clyde,  Sandusky  county,  and  eighty-five  years  of  age,  has  been  mar- 
ried four  times — first,  to  Sophia  Crockett ; secondly,  to  Hannah  Crockett, 
a sister;  thirdly,  to  Mary  Gale,  by  whom  he  had  six  children,  all  but 
one  alive;  and  fourthly,  to  Vina  Blanchard.  Alfred  S.  was  twice 
married.  By  his  first  wife,  Kate  Ann  Huffman,  he  became  the  father 
of  one  son  Fremont  ad  by  his  second  wife,  Elisa  Gray,  father  of  seven, 
all  of  whom  survive.  James  B.  Wickwire  has  been  twice  married,  his 
first  wife  being  formerly  a Miss  Julia  Merriman.  There  were  no 
children  by  this  union. 

Alfred  S.  Wickwire,  a brother  of  James  B.  Wickwire,  had  the 
following  children:  Fremont,  born  May  18,  1866;  Myrtilla,  June  18, 
1870;  Cai'rie,  March  21,  1872;  William,  June  16,  1874;  Ora,  December 
1,  1877 ; Roscoe,  September  20,  1880 ; Olivia,  January  8,  1883 ; and 
Alfred  Glen,  December  20,  1886.  Myrtilla  married  a Mr.  Shade  and 
has  the  following  children  : Anna  May,  born  August  5,  1903,  and  William 
Roy  born  September  17,  1904.  Carrie  is  the  wife  of  Mr.  Davis  and  her 
children  are : Gertrude  M.  born  November  21,  1899,  Ruth  born  October 
8,  1903,  and  Russel,  born  May  20,  1907.  Ora  Wickwire  has  the  following 
children : Clara  born  December  13,  1899,  Florence,  October  4,  1901, 
and  Opal,  April  26,  1909.  The  children  of  Roscoe  Wickwire  art. 
Bonetta,  born  December  30,  1906,  and  Undine,  December  2,  1908. 

The  grand  and  great-grandchildren  of  George  Wickwire  are  as 
follows:  Children  of  Charles  and  Catharine  Wickwire  are,  Ethel  W., 

born  November  1,  1883,  Esther  I.,  March  18,  1885,  Ruth  R.,  June  20, 
1893,  died  February  12,  1894,  and  George  C.  Wickwire,  born  February 
7,  1895;  children  of  Wilma  Wickwire  Elston  are:  Lynn,  born  April  9, 
1893,  and  Ralph,  August  5,  1898 ; child  of  Nellie  Wickwire  Lease  is  Nellie 
Fern  Lease,  born  January  25,  1890;  children  of  Loretta  A.  C.  Wickwire 
Sanders  are  Guy  W.,  born  in  1874  and  Paul  W.,  born  in  1887 ; children 
of  Guy  W.  Sanders  and  great-grandchildren  of  George  W.  Wickwire  are : 
Mark  C.  Sanders,  born  in  1904,  and  Hugh  G.  Sanders,  born  in  1909; 
children  of  Catharine  Wickwire  Miller  are:  Clyde  W.,  born  September 
21,  1877,  Waldo  W.,  October  19,  1884,  and  Wayne  T.,  March  30,  1888. 


MR.  AND  MRS.  WILLIAM  BREECE 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


677 


The  great-grandchildren  of  Laura  Wiekwire  Merriman  are : Frank- 
lin J.  Merriman,  born  October  8,  1859 ; Ella  Rowley,  born  September  20, 
1866,  married  July  3,  1895,  and  has  J.  Rowley  Merriman,  born  May  14, 
1896,  G.  Clem  Merriman,  born  April  8,  1899,  and  June  Lois  Merriman, 
born  June  11,  1906. 

William  Breece. — One  of  the  largest  land-owners  and  most  exten- 
sive dealers  in  stock  in  Hardin  county  is  William  Breece,  of  Roundhead 
township.  Mr.  Breece  was  born  May  12,  1834,  in  Logan  county,  Ohio, 
and  is  a son  of  Robert  and  Lydia  (Henry)  Breece.  Robert  Breece 
spelled  his  name  “Brees,  ” and  was  a native  of  Wales.  He  came  to  the 
United  States  with  his  parents  when  a child,  and  was  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  Ohio,  living  in  several  different  parts  of  the  state  at  different  times. 
He  married  Lydia  Henry  in  Logan  county,  Ohio ; her  parents  were 
natives  of  Virginia  and  settled  in  Logan  county,  where  the  daughter  was 
born.  They  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives  in  Logan  county,  but 
Robert  Breece  and  his  wife  located  in  Allen  county  and  later  removed  to 
Hardin  county  among  the  early  settlers.  Mr.  Breece  died  in  Hardin 
county  at  the  age  of  fifty-five  years. 

Robert  Breece  walked  from  Roundhead  May  28,  1835,  to  Bucyrus, 
and  entered  eighty  acres  of  land  in  the  woods  in  Roundhead  township, 
and  which  is  now  owned  by  his  son  William  and  held  as  the  old  home- 
stead. But  little  of  the  land  in  Hardin  county  was  cleared  at  that  time, 
and  he  set  out  to  improve  his  farm  and  erect  a house,  and  here  he  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  Of  his  nine  children  but  two  now  survive 
(1910),  William  and  Amanda,  Mrs.  Gillman,  also  of  Roundhead  township. 

William  Breece  was  a small  boy  when  the  family  settled  premanently 
in  Hardin  county,  and  as  he  grew  up  he  helped  to  improve  the  farm, 
attending  school  winters.  He  became  an  expert  farmer,  and  was  a 
good  judge  of  land  values ; for  the  past  twenty  years  he  has  often  acted 
as  a land  appraiser,  and  at  one  time  owned  about  six  hundred  acres  of 
land  himself,  all  of  which  he  acquired  through  his  own  efforts.  He  has 
always  been  very  successful  as  a farmer  and  is  a self-made  man.  For 
many  years  he  has  been  very  active  in  buying  and  selling  cattle  and  other 
stock,  and  is  a business  man  of  sound  judgment  and  intelligence.  He 
now  owns  his  father’s  old  homestead,  and  his  possessions  of  land  alto- 
gether aggregates  about  five  hundred  and  fifty  acres. 

Mr.  Breece  married  Sarah  Axtel,  and  she  became  the  mother  of 
four  children,  only  one  of  whom  survives,  Lydia,  wife  of  M.  L.  Baugh- 
man, who  lives  in  Kenton.  Mr.  Baughman  and  his  wife  have  four  sous 
and  one  daughter.  Mr.  Breece  is  a devout  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  of  Roundhead.  Politically  he  has  always  supported 
the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party,  although  he  has  taken  no  very 
active  part  in  public  affairs.  He  was  elected  land  appraiser  in  1909. 
He  is  well  known  throughout  the  county,  where  he  is  highly  respected 
His  wife  died  in  November,  1909,  after  a married  life  of  fifty-one  years. 
She  was  a woman  of  high  character,  universally  esteemed,  and  her  death 
was  widely  mourned. 


678 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


E.  M.  Turner  is  one  of  the  land  owners  and  representative  farmers 
of  Liberty  township,  the  place  of  his  birth,  January  8,  1854.  He  is  a 
son  of  Isaac  B.  and  Elizabeth  (Wood)  Turner,  the  father  born  in 
Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  June  17,  1817,  and  the  mother  was  born  near 
Zanesville  of  this  state  in  1828.  She  was  a daughter  of  Samuel  Wood 
and  a sister  of  the  Hon.  James  J.  Wood,  probate  judge  of  Hardin  county 
for  some  years,  and  of  David  Wood  of  Ada.  Isaac  B.  Turner  and 
Elizabeth  Wood  were  married  in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  and  their 
seven  children  were  tenderly  reared  and  well  educated,  all  of  them 
receiving  the  advantages  of  the  University  at  Ada  and  with  the  exception 
of  Howard  all  taught  school.  In  order  of  birth  they  are  Jane  (de- 
ceased), John  W.,  Franklin,  E.  M.,  S.  W.,  S.  II.  and  Howard.  Franklin 
Turner  married  Miss  Catherine  Reed,  and  they  have  children,  Clara, 
Otis,  Harry  and  Cora.  S.  W.  Turner  married  first  Miss  H.  0.  Kridler, 
by  whom  he  had  two  sons,  Lloyd  and  Walter,  and  he  married  for  Ins 
second  wife  Olive  Meyers,  and  they  also  had  two  children,  Paul  and 
Helen.  Howard  married  Dora  Tressel,  and  their  five  children  are 
Donna,  Alva,  Paul,  Emmit  and  Gladys.  Jane  became  the  wife  of  S. 
Turner,  and  had  a son,  Roy. 

Early  in  the  ’50s  Isaac  B.  Turner  came  to  Hardin  county  and 
bought  eigthy  acres  of  land  in  Liberty  township,  but  in  1866  he  sold 
that  property  and  bought  a,  one  hundred  and  thirty  acre  tract  in  the  same 
township,  now  the  property  of  his  son.  He  built  a log  house  there  and 
partly  cleared  the  land,  but  seeing  the  necessity  of  buying  more  land 
and  taking  advantage  of  a good  market  he  disposed  of  that  property 
and  purchased  the  present  homestead  of  E.  M.  Turner.  He  was  a 
charter  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  Ames  chapel,  and 
lie  served  that  society  for  many  years  as  a trustee.  His  influence  and 
advice  were  often  sought  and  freely  given,  and  he  was  active  in  every 
worthy  enterprise  for  the  benefit  of  his  community.  He  died  on  the 
14th  of  December,  1902,  mourned  by  a host  of  friends.  He  survived 
his  wife  a number  of  years,  she  having  died  in  1880. 

E.  M.  Turner,  a son  of  Isaac  B.  and  Elizabeth,  is  now  one  of  the 
representative  farmers  of  Liberty  township,  owning  and  occupying 
the  old  Turner  homestead  there,  a valuable  and  productive  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  thirty  acres.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
Liberty  township,  and  completed  his  studies  at  the  Northern  Ohio  Uni- 
versity at  Ada,  afterward  teaching  school  for  seven  terms.  He  then 
turned  his  attention  exclusively  to  farming.  In  1876  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Alice,  a daughter  of  John  Tressel,  and  of  the  seven  children 
which  blessed  their  union  six  grew  to  mature  years,  namely:  Nora, 

the  wife  of  J.  P.  Motter;  Ward  E.,  who  married  Miss  Ivan  Hawk,  and 
their  two  children  are  Ray  and  Alice ; Charles  C.,  who  married  Miss 
Bertha  Rothrock ; Roy,  deceased ; Floyd  ; Earl  and  Ruth.  Both  Charles 
C.  and  Floyd  are  graduates  of  the  Ohio  Northern  University  at  Ada. 
Mrs.  Turner,  the  mother  of  these  children  died  on  the  19th  of  August, 
1904,  and  for  his  second  wife  Mr.  Turner  married  Mrs.  Hattie  Henry 
September  3,  1906.  He  is  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  he  has  served  his  church  as  a trustee  and  as  a Sunday  school 
superintendent. 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


679 


Thomas  Lincoln  Breedlove. — Among  the  industrious,  successful 
men  of  Hardin  county  is  T.  L.  Breedlove,  who  has  been  a resident  of 
of  the  locality  since  1893.  Mr.  Breedlove  was  born  in  Washington 
county,  Illinois,  November  17,  1860,  and  is  a son  of  William  and  Char- 
lotte (Stroble)  Breedlove,  natives  of  Champaign  county  Ohio.  When 
he  was  ten  years  of  age  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Ohio,  where  they 
located  on  a farm.  He  spent  his  boyhood  days  working  on  his  father’s 
farm  through  the  summers  and  attending  the  public  school  winters, 
receiving  a fair  education.  He  remained  at  home  until  he  reached 
his  maturity,  and  learned  the  details  of  farming. 

In  1879  Mr.  Breedlove  married  Emma  Arnold,  of  Champaign 
county,  Ohio,  and  to  this  union  seven  children  have  been  born,  as  fol- 
lows: Clara,  Valire,  Lillie,  Valore,  James,  John  and  Oscar.  Shortly 
after  his  marriage  Mr.  Breedlove  moved  to  Auglaise  county,  Ohio,  where 
he  lived  on  a farm  until  1893,  when  he  located  in  Hardin  county,  which 
has  been  his  home  since.  He  settled  in  Alger,  and  is  now  foreman  in 
the  onion  fields  about  two  and  a half  miles  southeast  of  Alger,  for  George 
P.  Stambaugh. 

Mr.  Breedlove  is  a man  of  good  principles  and  high  character,  and 
is  respected  wherever  he  is  known.  He  is  honest  and  upright  in  his 
dealings  and  has  many  friends.  Politically  he  upholds  the  principles 
of  the  Republican  party,  and  he  takes  a commendable  interest  in  local 
affairs. 

John  C.  Sheller,  a prosperous  farmer  of  Marion  township,  Har- 
din county,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Seneca  county,  Ohio,  August  14,  1857, 
son  of  John  and  Catharine  (Kemmerly)  Sheller,  the  former  a native 
of  Pennsylvania  and  the  latter  of  Fairfield,  Ohio.  When  he  was  a small 
boy  both  his  parents  died,  and  he  was  early  thrown  upon  his  own  re- 
sources. He  was  reared  on  a farm,  and  up  to  the  time  he  was  fifteen 
years  of  age  he  attended  district  school  during  the  winter  terms.  Prom 
the  time  he  was  fifteen  until  he  was  twenty-three  he  was  a wage  worker 
on  farms  and  began  early  to  buy  out  the  heirs  of  his  father’s  farm. 
Then  he  married  and  settled  down  to  farming  on  his  own  responsibility. 
Today  he  is  the  owner  of  a fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and  fifty-four 
acres  in  section  14,  Marion  township  and  is  engaged  in  general  farming 
and  stock  raising. 

Mr.  Sheller  first  married  Miss  Mary  James,  who  bore  him  one 
child  that  died  in  infancy,  her  death  following  soon  afterward.  For 
his  second  wife  he  married  Miss  Maggie  Sorg,  who  was  born  in  Seneca 
county,  Ohio,  November  19,  1864,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Mary  (Kuhn) 
Sorg.  Her  parents  were  born  and  married  in  Germany  and  had  two 
children  when  they  came  to  this  country  and  settled  in  Ohio.  During 
the  Civil  war  Peter  Sorg  enlisted  in  the  Union  army,  and  was  killed  in 
battle  at  Stone  river.  His  widow  subsquently  moved  to  Postoria,  Ohio, 
where  she  died  October,  1905.  The  children  by  this  second  marriage 
are  as  follows:  Nora,  born  January  15,  1887,  wife  of  Earl  Scott;  John 
Alvin,  October  9,  1888 ; Mary,  September  14,  1890 ; Elsie,  May  12,  1895, 
and  Fannie,  September  23,  1897.  Miss  Mary  is  a teacher  of  piano 
music,  and  has  a large  class. 


680 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Mr.  Shelter  and  his  family  are  members  of  Pleasant  Yalley  United 
Brethren  church,  and,  politically,  his  support  has  always  been  given  to 
the  Republican  party,  though  he  has  never  been  active  in  politics. 

Charles  Shuster  is  a prominent  and  worthy  farmer  in  Liberty 
township  and  he  descends  from  one  of  the  early  pioneer  families  of 
Hardin  county.  John  Shuster,  his  paternal  grandfather,  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania and  subsequently  moving  to  Tuscarawas  county,  Ohio,  married 
Elizabeth  Wingate,  and  in  1835  entered  one  hnndred  and  sixty  acres 
of  land  in  section  8,  Liberty  township,  Hardin  county.  And  in  1839, 
with  his  wife  and  nine  children,  he  drove  here  to  occupy  his  land,  all 
his  affects  with  the  exception  of  some  stock  which  they  drove  being 
packed  in  one  wagon  in  which  they  rode.  Arriving  here  they  were 
housed  by  some  of  their  distant  neighbors  until  a log  cabin  could  be 
erected,  which  was  soon  accomplished,  and  then  began  life  in  true  pioneer 
style.  As  this  move  was  made  in  November  there  was  no  chance  of 
putting  in  a crop  for  some  time,  but  wild  game  was  abundant  and 
provided  them  with  their  principal  means  of  sustenance  until  a crop 
could  be  put  in  and  harvested.  The  virgin  soil  soon  gave  way  to  the 
axe  and  the  plow,  and  in  a few  years  John  Shuster  had  evolved  a rich 
and  productive  farm.  Twelve  children  were  born  to  John  and  Eliza- 
beth Shuster,  namely : Samuel,  Sara,  Mary,  Daniel,  Martha,  John, 
Henry,  Elizabeth,  Joshua,  George,  Wesley  and  Elihu.  The  three  last 
named  were  born  in  Hardin  county,  and  four  of  this  family  are  now 
living, — Martha,  John,  Henry  and  Elihu.  John  Shuster,  the  father, 
died  in  Hardin  county  on  the  22d  of  October,  1881,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
three  years. 

Daniel  Shuster,  the  fourth  born  child  in  the  above  family,  was  born 
in  Tuscarawas  county,  Ohio,  February  22,  1827,  and  he  was  twelve  years 
of  age  when  the  family  came  to  Hardin  county.  Ilis  early  life  unti 
young  manhood  was  spent  with  his  father  clearing  their  new  farm, 
and  later  he  worked  out  by  the  month.  In  addition  to  this  work  he  also 
learned  the  carpenter’s  trade  and  worked  at  it  for  a number  of  years, 
being  a useful  and  much  sought  after  man  on  account  of  his  skill  as  a 
mechanic  and  his  willingness  to  give  value  received.  At  his  death  he 
owned  one  hundred  acres  of  valuable  farming  land,  the  greater  part  of 
which  he  had  cleared.  He  was  a member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  and 
he  was  held  in  the  highest  esteem  by  all  who  knew  him  on  account  of 
his  sterling  qualities  and  upright  character.  On  the  25th  of  December, 
1852,  he  was  happily  married  to  Christine  Kuhn,  and  the  following 
children  were  born  to  them:  Clara,  the  wife  of  G.  V.  Guyton;  Lucy, 
deceased,  was  the  wife  A.  Aldering;  Angelia  married  C.  E.  Overmeyer; 
Ida  is  the  wife  of  F.  P.  Rusher ; K.  A.  married  Nora  Flynn ; and  Charles. 
Daniel  Shuster,  the  father,  died  on  the  14th  of  October,  1881,  and  he  is 
still  survived  by  his  widow. 

Charles  Shuster  was  born  on  his  father’s  farm,  the  homestead 
which  he  now  owns,  and  he  attended  the  common  schools.  He  has  added 
forty  acres  to  the  homestead,  making  him  a farm  of  one  hundred  and 
forty  acres.  On  the  26th  of  December,  1890,  he  was  married  to  Miss 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


681 


Anna,  a daughter  of  A.  C.  and  Julia  Baker,  and  she  was  born  in  Beach- 
ton,  Union  county,  Ohio,  in  1865.  Her  parents  were  from  Baden,  Ger- 
many, the  father  born  in  1821  and  the  mother  in  1837,  and  the  former  was 
a son  of  Francis  Baker,  who  with  his  family  came  to  seek  a new  home  in  a 
new  country  in  1832.  In  1837  he  entered  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
of  land  in  Liberty  township,  but  he  resided  near  Columbus,  where  he 
owned  a seventy-five  acre  tract,  and  he  died  in  1859,  and  his  wife  in  1888. 
A.  C.  and  Julia  Baker  also  came  to  the  United  States  in  1837,  and  after 
the  death  of  his  father  A.  C.  Baker  purchased  the  latter’s  claim  in 
Hardin  county  of  the  remaining  heirs  and  moved  thereto  in  1865.  By 
subsequent  purchase  he  became  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres.  He  married  Julia  Hammer  in  1855,  and  the  following  eight  chil- 
dren were  born  to  them : Lizzie,  Sophia,  Kate,  Francis,  Anna,  William, 
Louis  and  Mary.  The  four  children,  a son  and  three  daughters,  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shuster  are  Donald,  Catherine,  Julia  and  Lucile  C. 

William  T.  Bowdle. — A native  son  of  Hardin  county  and  a member 
of  one  of  its  well  known  and  highly  honored  pioneer  families,  Mr.  Bowdle 
is  a citizen  of  prominence  and  influence  in  Roundhead  township,  where 
he  was  reared  to  manhood  and  where  he  has  maintained  his  home  from 
the  time  of  his  nativity.  He  conducts  a general  store  and  operates  a 
saw  mill  at  Holden,  in  this  township,  and  is  also  the  owner  of  a well 
improved  farm  property  of  two  hundred  and  five  acres.  He  is  famil- 
iarly known  as  Esquire  Bowdle,  from  the  fact  that  he  has  long  been  the 
incumbent  of  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace,  and  no  citizen  of  the  com- 
munity is  held  in  higher  confidence  and  esteem. 

Mr.  Bowdle  traces  his  lineage  back  to  stanch  German  origin,  and 
the  family  was  founded  in  America  in  the  colonial  epoch  of  our  national 
history,  while  the  name  lias  been  identified  with  the  annals  of  the  state 
of  Ohio  since  the  pioneer  days.  William  T.  Bowdle,  the  immediate 
subject  of  this  review,  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  farm  in  Roundhead 
township,  Hardin  county,  on  the  11th  of  December,  1847,  and  is  a son 
of  James  B.  arid  Elizabeth  (Reed)  Bowdle,  both  likewise  natives  of  Ohio. 
James  B.  Bowdle  was  born  and  reared  in  Ross  county,  and  was  a son  of 
Joseph  and  Lucretia  (Brown)  Bowdle,  who  continued  to  reside  in  that 
county  until  their  death,  though  the  father  had  early  secured  a tract  of 
land  in  Hardin  county.  James  B.  Bowdle  was  one  of  a family  of  eight 
children,  the  names  of  the  others  being  as  here  noted : Jesse  L.,  Nelson, 
Thomas,  Milton,  William  B.,  Rebecca  and  Anna.  Of  this  family  two 
are  still  living,  William  B.  and  Milton. 

James  B.  Bowdle  received  very  limited  educational  advantages, 
owing  to  the  exigencies  of  time  and  place,  but  he  attended  the  primitive 
pioneer  schools  as  opportunity  afforded,  and  his  entire  active  career  was 
marked  by  excellent  judgment,  indefatigable  industry  and  sterling 
integrity  in  all  the  relations  of  life.  In  1831  he  moved  from  Ross 
county  to  Hardin  county,  and  in  November  of  that  year  he  settled  on  the 
land  previously  secured  by  his  father  in  Roundhead  township.  Upon 
him  devolved  the  herculean  task  of  reclaiming  a farm  from  the  virgin 
forest,  and  he  put  forth  his  energies  so  effectively  that  in  due  course  of 


682 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


time  he  reclaimed  his  land  into  productivity  and  made  one  of  the  good 
homes  of  this  section.  His  original  domicile  was  a log  house  of  the  type 
common  to  the  pioneer  days,  but  with  increasing  prosperity  he  was 
enabled  to  avail  himself  of  better  facilities  and  to  provide  a substantial 
residence  for  his  family.  He  continued  to  reside  on  the  old  homestead 
until  his  death,  in  1890,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years,  secure  in  the 
esteem  and  goodwill  of  all  who  knew  him.  He  contributed  to  the  mater- 
ial and  civic  upbuilding  and  development  of  Hardin  county,  and  on  the 
roster  of  its  worthy  pioneers  his  name  shall  have  an  enduring  place. 
Both  he  and  his  wife,  whose  death  occurred  in  about  1856,  at  which  time 
she  was  fifty  years  of  age,  were  zealous  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  and  in  politics  he  was  originally  a Whig  and  later  a 
Republican.  Of  their  children  two  died  in  infancy,  and  the  names  of 
the  others  are  here  entered : Sarah  J.,  Margaret,  Mary  F.,  Joseph  A., 
John  W.,  David  N.,  William  T.,  Nancy  S.  S.  and  Caroline.  The  children 
now  living  are  Joseph  A.  and  William  T.,  the  family  having  numerous 
representatives  in  Hardin  county  at  the  present  time. 

William  T.  Bowdle  is  one  of  the  sterling  citizens  of  Hardin  county 
whose  memory  forms  an  indissoluble  link  between  the  primitive  pioneer 
epoch  and  the  latter  days  of  opulent  prosperity  in  this  favored  section  of 
the  state,  and  his  reminiscences  of  the  early  days  are  interesting  and 
graphic.  He  was  reared  to  maturity  on  the  old  home  farm,  early  be- 

ginning to  assist  in  the  clearing  of  land  and  other  parts  of  the  farm 
work,  thus  learning  well  the  lessons  of  practical  and  consecutive  industry, 
the  while  lie  availed  himself  of  the  advantages  offered  in  the  little  log 
school  house,  with  its  puncheon  floor,  wide  fireplace  and  slab  desks  and 
benches.  In  the  broader  school  of  experience  he  has  developed  his 
naturally  alert  and  vigorous  mentality  and  is  known  as  a man  of  wide 
general  information  and  mature  judgment,  as  well  as  one  endowed  with 
excellent  business  acumen. 

Mr.  Bowdle  remained  at  the  parental  home  until  his  marriage,  at 
the  age  of  twenty-two  years,  when  he  initiated  his  independent  career  as 
a farmer.  He  has  never  entirely  abandoned  his  association  with  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  and  is  now  the  owner  of  a well  improved  farm  of  two 
hundred  and  five  acres,  in  his  native  township,  where  he  lives  and  con- 
ducts his  general  merchandise  store.  Mr.  Bowdle  conducts  a well 
equipped  general  store  at  Holden,  drawing  his  patronage  from  the 
excellent  rural  section  of  this  vicinity  and  being  known  as  a straight- 
forward, reliable  and  upright  business  man  and  as  a citizen  of  utmost 
loyalty  and  public  spirit.  In  addition  to  his  store  he  is  the  owner  of  a 
saw  mill,  which  he  has  successfully  operated  for  a number  of  years  past. 

In  politics  Mr.  Bowdle  gives  an  uncompromising  allegiance  to  the 
Republican  party,  and  he  takes  a lively  and  intelligent  interest  in  the 
vital  issues  of  the  day.  In  a more  local  way  he  has  ever  given  his  influ- 
ence and  aid  in  .support  of  those  measures  and  objects  which  conserve 
the  social,  moral,  educational  and  material  well  being  of  the  community. 
He  served  as  postmaster  at  Holden  for  several  years,  having  been  ap- 
pointed to  this  office  under  the  administration  of  President  McKinley. 
He  has  been  justice  of  the  peace  in  Roundhead  township  since  1892,  and 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


683 


has  so  ably  administered  the  affairs  of  the  office  as  to  make  it  justify  its 
title.  He  is  a member  of  Wayne  Lodge  No.  569,  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons.  He  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  pillars  of  the  Fletcher  Chapel 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  has  long  been  one  of  its  most  zealous 
and  devoted  members,  being  at  the  present  time  assistant  superintendent 
of  its  Sunday  school,  as  well  as  a valued  member  of  its  board  of  trustees. 

On  the  11th  of  March,  1870,  Mr.  Bowdle  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Laura  Rutledge,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  Hardin  county,  this 
state,  and  who  was  a daughter  of  the  late  B.  W.  Rutledge.  Of  the  five 
children  of  this  union  one  son  died  in  infancy,  and  Caroline  A.,  Cora  M. 
and  Clara  A.  also  are  deceased.  The  one  surviving  is  Otto  E.,  who  is 
now  a resident  of  Akron,  this  state.  On  the  27th  of  November,  1892, 
Mr.  Bowdle  contracted  a second  marriage,  being  then  united  to  Miss 
Amy  J.  Street,  who  presides  with  dignity  over  their  attractive  home. 
She  was  born  on  a farm  near  Ada,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  on  the  29th 
of  December,  1862,  and  is  a daughter  of  Uriah  and  Lucinda  Street,  both 
now  deceased.  Concerning  the  five  children  of  the  second  marriage  the 
following  brief  record  is  given  in  conclusion  of  this  sketch : Emmet  C. 
was  born  October  21,  1893;  James  W.  died  in  infancy  in  1895;  Joseph 
H.  was  born  May  28,  1897;  Charles  P.  was  born  July  16,  1899;  and 
Oliver  G.,  who  was  born  September  30,  1901,  died  in  1902. 

James  W.  Bowen,  who  has  a general  store  at  McGuffey,  Ohio,  is 
one  of  the  representative  men  of  his  locality.  Mr.  Bowen  was  born  in 
Washington  county,  Ohio,  October  23,  1876,  son  of  George  and  Amanda 
(Wilson)  Bowen,  and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  his  native 
county.  His  father  a farmer,  he  was  reared  to  farm  life  in  Washington 
county,  Ohio,  and  in  Lincoln  county,  Kansas.  He  remained  with  his 
father  until  he  was  eighteen,  after  which  for  several  years,  he  worked 
out  by  the  month  on  farms.  In  November,  1904,  he  opened  up  a stock 
of  general  merchandise  at  McGuffey,  Hardin  county,  and  devoted  his 
attention  to  the  business.  In  this  he  has  prospered  from  the  start.  He 
carries  a stock  of  well  assorted  goods,  valued  at  about  two  thousand 
dollars,  and  occupies  his  own  store,  a frame  building,  thirty  by  sixty 
feet  in  dimensions,  which  he  erected  in  1909.  Besides  his  store,  he  owns 
his  home  and  other  property  at  McGuffey. 

In  December,  1897,  he  married  Miss  Ella  Obenour,  a native  of 
Hardin  county,  Ohio,  born  in  1878;  and  they  have  one  daughter.  Delorys, 
born  in  September,  1898.  Politically,  Mr.  Bowen  is  a Democrat ; fra- 
ternally, a Knight  of  Pythias,  having  membership  in  Golden  Shield 
Lodge,  No.  724.  Also  he  is  a Modern  Woodman. 

George  F.  Stambaugh,  is  one  of  the  able  representatives  of  that 
class  of  progressive  business  men  who  are  giving  marked  impetus  to 
the  industrial  and  civic  advancement  of  Hardin  county,  where  he  is 
one  of  the  interested  principals  in  the  Scioto  Land  Company,  which 
owns  and  has  under  cultivation  an  extensive  tract  of  land  in  this  section, 
the  same  being  largely  devoted  to  the  propagation  of  onions,  with  enor- 
mous annual  production. 


684 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Mr.  Stambaugh  was  born  in  the  city  of  Youngstown,  Mahoning 
county,  Ohio,  on  the  12th  of  June,  1870,  and  is  a son  of  John  and  Caro- 
line (Hamilton)  Stambangh,  who  are  now  both  deceased,  the  father 
having  died  in  New  York  City,  and  the  mother  in  Mississippi.  George 
F.  Stambaugh  received  his  early  educational  discipline  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  city,  after  which  he  attended  the  preparatory  school 
at  Saratoga  Springs,  New  York,  being  graduated  in  this  institution  in 
1888.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  years  Mr.  Stambaugh  became  associated 
with  his  brothers,  Henry  and  John  Stambaugh,  in  the  raising  of  the  best 
type  of  standard-bred  horses,  in  Mahoning  county,  this  state,  and  he 
continued  to  be  identified  with  this  line  of  enterprise  for  five  years, 
within  which  the  three  brothers  bred  and  had  on  the  trotting  turf  many 
fine  horses.  The  subject  of  this  review  has  not  lost  his  interest  in  racing 
affairs  and  is  still  the  owner  of  several  valuable  and  speedy  trotters. 

In  1893  Mr.  Stambaugh  came  to  Hardin  county,  where  he  has  since 
maintained  his  home  and  where  he  is  one  of  the  principal  stockholders 
in  the  Scioto  Land  Company,  which  owns  about  four  thousand  acres 
of  the  valuable  land  in  this  section,  much  of  the  same  being  the  specially 
fertile  marsh  land,  which  has  been  reclaimed  and  which  is  utilized  large- 
ly in  the  raising  of  onions,  though  other  products  are  raised  in  large 
quantities.  About  four  hundred  acres  are  now  under  affective  cultiva- 
tion and  the  company  has  made  the  best  of  improvements  on  the  proper- 
ty, in  the  operation  of  which  a large  force  of  men  is  employed  throughout 
the  entire  year.  The  output  of  onions  alone  aggregated  fully  sixty 
thousands  bushels  in  1909,  and  this  brief  statement  indicates  the  scope 
and  importance  of  the  company’s  operations,  which  have  marked  bear- 
ing on  the  industrial  prosperity  of  Hardin  county.  Mr.  Stambaugh  re- 
sides in  the  attractive  little  village  of  McGuffey  and  is  known  as  a young 
man  of  marked  business  acumen  and  executive  ability,  being  one  of  the 
substantial  capitalists  of  his  native  state.  In  politics  he  is  arrayed  as 
a staunch  supporter  of  the  principles  and  policies  for  which  the  Republi- 
can party  stands  sponsor,  and  he  is  affiliated  with  the  lodge  of  the  Benev- 
olent and  Protective  Order  of  Elks  at  Kenton,  as  well  as  with  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America.  He  is  genial  in  his  bearing,  liberal  and  tolerant 
in  his  association  with  his  fellow  men,  and  is  held  in  high  esteem  in  the 
community  in  which  he  has  elected  to  maintain  his  home  and  in  whose 
welfare  he  shows  a lively  and  helpful  interest. 

On  November  5,  1902,  Mr.  Stambaugh  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Nellie  Conner,  daughter  of  John  P.  Conner,  a representative  citizen 
of  Hardin  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stambaugh  have  no  children. 

William  A.  Fullilove,  general  merchant  at  McGuffey,  Hardin 
county,  Ohio,  has  been  in  business  here  since  1898.  Mr.  Fullilove  is  a 
native  of  Kentucky.  He  was  born  in  Boone  county,  July  17,  1854,  son 
of  John  II.  and  Berilla  (Arnold)  Fullilove;  and  was  educated  in  his 
native  state,  for  a time  being  a student  at  White  Haven  Boarding  School. 
In  1880  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  T.  & 0.  C.  R.  R.,  and  wjth  head- 
quarters in  Marion  county,  Ohio,  was  on  the  road  for  many  years.  He 
was  appointed  postmaster  of  Martel,  Ohio,  and  served  as  such  under 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


685 


Grover  Cleveland’s  second  administration.  Coming  to  McGuffey  in  1898, 
he  turned  his  attention  to  general  merchandising,  and  from  the  first 
has  met  with  merited  success.  He  carries  a well  assorted  stock  of  first 
class  goods,  worth  on  an  average  six  thousand  and  five  hundred  dollars, 
and  occupies  his  own  building  which  he  erected  in  1903.  In  addition 
to  this  property,  he  owns  real  estate  at  other  places. 

Mr.  Fullilove  married  in  Knox  county,  Missouri,  Miss  Susie  Burton, 
and  they  have  one  daughter,  Ethel,  wife  of  Henry  Wallace.  Fraternally, 
Mr.  Fullilove  is  identified  with  Calantha  Lodge,  No.  116,  Knights  of 
Pythias.  Mrs.  Fullilove  is  a member  of  the  Disciple  church. 

George  W.  Klingler. — The  Ivlingler  name  is  an  old  and  honored 
one  in  Hardin  county,  and  it  also  belongs  to  some  of  the  pioneers  of  the 
county.  This  family  trace  their  ancestry  in  this  country  to  John  Kling- 
ler, who  came  many  years  ago  from  his  native  land  of  Switzerland  to 
the  United  States  and  with  his  family  located  in  Westmoreland  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  there  his  children  were  born.  That  family  included 
Adam  Klingler,  who  finally  moved  to  Perry  county,  Ohio,  after  his 
marriage  to  Elizabeth  Fielder.  There  they  entered  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land  during  President  Andrew  Jackson’s  administration, 
reared  their  family  and  died  in  peace  and  plenty.  They  became  the 
parents  of  twelve  children,  but  only  David,  George,  Jacob  A.,  Joel, 
Margaret  and  Leah  moved  to  Hardin  county,  but  not  all  at  one  time, 
although  inside  of  five  years. 

David  Klingler  came  to  this  county  in  1848,  and  the  land  which 
his  father  entered  he  gave  to  him,  it  being  then  in  its  virgin  state,  and 
it  took  hard  and  incessant  toil  to  bring  it  to  the  productive  place  which 
it  soon  was.  He  built  a hewed  log  house  there  with  a board  floor,  it 
being  rather  a comfortable  and  commodious  dwelling,  and  he  married 
Miss  Sarah  Brosius,  of  German  parentage.  Her  people,  who  were 
wealthy,  emigrated  to  this  country  in  an  early  day.  To  David  and  Sarah 
Klingler  were  born  eighteen  children,  namely : Amos,  Reuben  and 

Joshua  (twins),  Charles,  David,  Melanchton,  Adam,  Jacob,  Sarah, 
Calvin,  Franklin,  William,  Mary  and  Amelia  (twins),  Douglas,  Silome, 
Cyrus  and  Catherine.  Amos,  Douglas  and  Amelia  are  residents  of 
Hardin  county.  David  Klingler,  the  father,  died  in  1875,  his  wife  Sarah 
having  passed  away  twenty-four  years  ago. 

Amos  Klingler,  the  first  born  of  the  eighteen  children,  was  born 
in  Perry  county,  Ohio,  in  1842,  and  he  has  always  followed  agricultural 
pursuits.  In  1865  he  bought  his  present  farm  of  eighty  acres  of  wild 
and  unimproved  land,  but  this  unproductive  place  soon  gave  way  to  a 
valuable  and  well  cultivated  homestead.  In  1862  Amos  Klingler 
married  Miss  Lucinda  Greenawalt,  from  Allen  county,  Ohio,  and  their 
eight  children  are:  David  II.,  Reuben  M.,  John  C.,  George  W.,  Clara, 
Isaiah,  Nathan  L.  and  Adam.  Clara,  the  only  daughter,  is  the  wife 
of  C.  M.  Clun. 

George  W.  Klingler  was  born  in  Liberty  township,  Hardin  county, 
June  6,  1867,  and  he  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native  township, 
and  adopting  the  vocation  of  his  ancestors  he  has  become  a prominent 
Vol.  II— 16 


686 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


and  successful  agriculturist.  He  began  life  for  himself  without  capital 
save  willing  hands  and  ready  mind,  and  his  first  investment  in  land  was 
tint,  a small  tract.  To  that  he  soon  added  forty  acres  more,  then  an  ad- 
ditional twenty  and  kept  on  increasing  his  landed  possessions  until  he 
now  owns  an  estate  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  acres  of  the  finest 
farming  land  of  the  community  and  improved  with  as  fine  a set  of  build- 
ings as  are  found  in  Hardin  county.  His  barn  is  a convenient  and  com- 
modious structure  erected  in  1904,  and  the  home,  modern  and  complete  in 
its  appointments,  was  built  in  the  following  year  of  1905.  Mr.  Klingler 
makes  a specialty  of  raising  hogs. 

On  Aiigust  26,  1893,  Mr.  Klingler  was  married  to  Miss  Bessie,  a 
daughter  of  the  Rev.  Eli  Beagle,  a minister  in  the  Dunkard  church.  She 
was  born  in  Blanchard  township  of  Hardin  county  in  1872.  The  four 
children  of  this  union  are:  Chauncey  V.,  born  in  1894;  Gladys,  in  1898; 
Amos  E.,  in  1902;  and  Raymond,  in  1904.  The  family  are  members  of 
St.  Paul ’s  Reformed  church  and  Mr.  Klingler  is  a member  of  the  Grange. 

Henry  Elroy  Dickinson,  a banker  and  merchant  of  Mt.  Victory 
was  born  July  16.  1857,  in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  and  is  a son  of  Louis 
and  Mary  Ann  (Beck)  Dickinson.  His  grandparents  were  Quakers  and 
the  grandfather,  Thomas  Dickinson,  was  a soldier  in  the  war  of  1812, 
and  came  from  Virginia  to  Ohio,  where  he  settled  near  Zanesfield. 
They  endured  the  hardships  of  pioneer  life,  and  on  account  of  Indian 
troubles  had  to  move  farther  into  the  woods,  as  at  that  time  Zanesfield 
was  only  a trading  place.  He  located  near  Rushcreek  lake  where  he 
lived  until  his  death. 

Louis  Dickinson  was  born  in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  and  in  his  youth 
taught  school.  He  became  a farmer,  which  business  he  followed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life,  in  connection  with  stock-raising.  He  was  an  earnest 
and  active  member  of  the  Methodist  church ; politically  he  was  a Repub- 
lican and  filled  various  local  offices.  His  wife  was  born  in  Hardin 
county,  and  was  a daughter  of  St,.  Leger  Beck,  a farmer.  Louis  Dickin- 
son and  his  wife  had,  besides  Henry  E.,  children  as  follows:  Joshua 

Newton,  a farmer  of  Elk  City,  Oklahoma ; St.  Leger,  a farmer  of  Cleve- 
land, Oklahoma;  Adelia,  wife  of  J.  M.  Keller,  a farmer  of  Houston, 
Texas;  Margaret,  wife  of  William  Dixon,  of  Ray,  Colorado.  Mrs. 
Dickinson  died  in  March,  1864,  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven  years.  Mr. 
Dickinson  married  (second)  Elizabeth  Rosebrook,  who  is  still  living. 
Their  children  were : Minnie,  wife  of  Rev.  D.  G.  Hall,  pastor  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  at  Forest  ; Ella,  wife  of  William  Irick,  a 
farmer  near  Rushsylvania;  and  Robert  L.,  in  dairy  business  at  Findlay. 

After  reaching  the  age  of  sixteen  .years  Henry  E.  Dickinson  at- 
tended the  Rushsylvania  high  school,  Ada  University  and  Delaware 
University  and  a commercial  college.  When  twenty-two  years  of  age 
he  engaged  in  teaching  school.  In  1884  Mr.  Dickinson  removed  to 
Kansas,  where  he  spent  five  successful  years  in  farming ; for  one  year  he 
was  employed  as  clerk  in  a mercantile  establishment,  and  returning  to 
Ohio,  he  engaged  in  the  implement  business  at  Belief ontaine,  Ohio.  A 
year  later  he  located  in  Mt.  Victory,  where  he  entered  into  partnership 


1 


WATSON  SPENCER 


THOMAS  J.  SPENCEF  AND  FAMILY 


'•fe' 


-It 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


687 


with  T.  M.  Wallace,  in  the  hardware  and  implement  line,  and  they 
had  the  most  extensive  establishment  of  the  kind  in  Hardin,  county. 

Mr.  Dickinson  has  invested  in  various  business  enterprises,  and  is 
looked  upon  as  a keen,  clear-headed  man  of  business.  In  1893  he  became 
cashier  of  Mt.  Victory  Bank,  and  in  1904  became  its  vice  president. 
Besides  his  financial  interests  in  other  lines,  Mr.  Dickinson  takes  an 
active  interest  in  farming,  having  several  farms  in  Hardin  county.  He 
is  much  interested  in  stock  raising.  He  was  promoter  of  the  erection  of 
the  large  business  block,  of  brick,  covering  a square  block,  in  Mt.  Victory, 
and  with  his  partner,  W.  Witcraft,  promoted  what  is  known  as  the 
Dickinson-Witcraft,  Addition  to  Mt.  Victory.  They  improved  and 
built  up  the  road  out  of  the  city  known  as  the  West  Mansfield  pike.  Mr. 
Dickinson  is  considered  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  the  county, 
and  is  highly  esteemed  by  all. 

Mr.  Dickinson  is  an  active  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  He  is  a member  of  the  Masonic  order,  being  affiliated  with  the 
Blue  Lodge,  the  Commandery  and  Council  at  Kenton,  and  Consistory 
of  Dayton  and  Cincinnati.  He  belongs  to  the  Benevolent  and  Protec- 
tive Order  of  Elks  of  Kenton,  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  of  Mt.  Victory.  He  is  strongly  Repub- 
lican in  political  views,  though  he  has  never  cared  for  public  office.  He 
is  now  a member  of  the  county  executive  committee.  He  also  served 
as  state  delegate  for  years,  is  interested  in  education,  having  served  for 
fifteen  years  as  a member  of  the  school  board. 

March  5,  1884,  Mr.  Dickinson  married  Elizabeth  Amanda  Wallace, 
born  July  1,  1863,  daughter  of  Alexander  and  Mahala  (Roberts) 
Wallace,  pioneers  of  Logan  county,  Ohio,  both  deceased.  Mr.  Dickinson 
and  his  wife  became  parents  of  three  children,  Lewis  Clyde,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  two  and  one  half  years,  Mary  Twila  and  John  Alexander. 
Mary  T.  is  a graduate  of  Mt.  Victory  high  school  and  of  Ada  University 
and  also  attended  Delaware  University  two  years,  and  is  now  attending 
National  Park  Seminary,  in  Maryland,  where  she  will  be  graduated  this 
year.  John  Alexander  took  a course  in  the  Michigan  Military  Academy 
and  entered  Kenyon  College  at  Gambier,  Ohio,  in  1909. 

Thomas  J.  Spencer,  who  owns  a large  farm  in  Roundhead  township 
and  looks  after  his  extensive  interests,  having  practically  retired  from 
active  business  life,  is  a native  of  the  township,  born  October  23,  1841,  a 
son  of  Watson  and  Elnore  (Rutledge)  Spencer.  Watson  Spencer  was 
born  in  Clinton  county,  Ohio,  in  1812,  and  his  wife’s  parents  were  from 
Maryland.  They  were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  five  of  whom 
lived  to  maturity:  Mary  A.,  Elizabeth  J.,  Louisa,  Melissa  and  Thomas 
J.  Mr.  Spencer  and  his  wife  moved  to  Logan  county  during  their  early 
married  life,  and  about  1838  located  in  Hardin  county,  in  Roundhead 
township,  where  they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  Mr.  Spencer 
died  in  1879  and  his  wife  in  1851. 

The  boyhood  of  Thomas  J.  Spencer  was  spent  on  a farm,  and  he 
received  a good  education  in  the  common  schools.  At  the  age  of  twenty 
years  he  enlisted  in  Company  E,  Eighty-second  Ohio  Regiment,  the  date 


688 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


of  his  enlistment  being  November  13,  1861.  He  went  first  into  camp  at 
Kenton,  and  the  first  battle  in  which  he  participated  was  the  second 
battle  of  Bnll  Run.  He  served  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  took 
part  in  the  battles  at  Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville  and  Gettysburg. 
In  the  fall  of  1863  the  Eleventh  Army  Corps  was  sent  farther  west  and 
Mr.  Spencer  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Wauhatchie  Valley,  Lookout 
Mountain,  Missionary  Ridge  and  Chattanooga.  He  re-enlisted  during  the 
Atlanta  campaign,  and  was  present  at  the  fall  of  Atlanta,  was  also  with 
Sherman  in  his  “march  to  the  sea,”  and  was  disabled  at  Savannah. 
Mr.  Spencer  returned  to  Ohio  and  was  mustered  out  June  23,  1865.  He 
receives  a pension  of  twelve  dollars  a month.  At  the  close  of  his 
service  he  engaged  in  farming  in  Roundhead  township,  and  was  married 
September  29,  1867,  to  Mary  A.  Gossard,  who  was  born  and  reared  in 
Auglaize  county,  Ohio,  the  date  of  her  birth  being  May  31,  1849.  She 
spent  her  childhood  on  a farm  and  attended  a common  school.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Spencer  eight  children  were  born,  namely : Francis,  Nora  E., 
Hiram  F.,  Ely  J..  Thomas  J.,  Wilber  E.,  Lewis  V.  and  Alta. 

Mr.  Spencer  is  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at 
Fletcher  Chapel,  and  is  one  of  the  church  trustees.  He  belongs  to  West 
Newton  Post,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  politically  he  is  a stanch 
Republican.  His  farm  of  two  hundred  and  seventeen  acres  is  one  of  the 
best  in  the  county,  and  he  has  been  very  successful  in  its  conduct.  He 
is  an  enterprising,  industrious  man,  and  is  highly  respected  by  all  who 
know  him. 

James  E.  Gasson. — Among  the  many  enterprising  and  successful 
business  men  of  Hardin  county,  James  E.  Gasson,  a druggist  in  Kenton, 
holds  high  rank.  A son  of  Frank  Gasson,  he  was  born,  November  15, 
1875,  at  Versailles,  Darke  county,  coming  on  the  paternal  side  of  pure 
French  ancestry. 

His  grandfather,  John  Francis  Gasson,  a native  of  France,  left  his 
native  country  about  1830,  coming  directly  to  Ohio.  He  located  in 
Darke  county,  at  Jacksonville,  now  called  Versailles.  He  was  a man 
of  culture,  well  educated,  but  had  never  adopted  a profession.  Buying 
a tract  of  wild  land,  he  turned  his  attention  to  farming,  and  there  spent 
his  remaining  years,  passing  away  at  a ripe  old  age.  His  wife,  formerly 
Miss  Anna  Paget,  was  bom  and  bred  in  France.  She  died  on  the  home 
farm,  in  Versailles,  before  he  did. 

Frank  Gasson  was  born  in  the  Department  of  Lorraine,  France, 
and  when  scarcely  a year  old  was  brought  by  his  parents  to  Ohio.  In 
early  manhood  he  went  by  way  of  Nicaragua  to  California,  where  he 
was  employed  in  mining  for  a number  of  years.  Returning  to  his  old 
home  in  Versailles,  Ohio,  in  1872  he  conducted  a general  mercantile  and 
provision  business  during  the  remainder  of  his  active  career,  and  is  now 
living  there  retired  from  business  cares.  He  married  Rachel  LI.  Barley, 
who  was  born  in  Marion,  Grant  county,  Indiana,  a daughter  of  Conrad 
and  Rachel  (Rickel)  Barley,  both  natives  of  Bedford  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania. They  reared  four  sons  and  one  daughter,  namely:  Daniel  V., 

John  F.,  George,  James  E.,  the  subject  of  this  brief  sketch,  and  Clara  L. 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


689 


After  liis  graduation  from  the  Versailles  high  school,  James  E. 
Gasson  entered  the  Ohio  Northern  University,  at  Ada,  and  was  gradu- 
ated from  the  Pharmaceutical  Department  with  the  class  of  July,  1895. 
He  was  subsequently  employed  as  clerk  in  a drug  store  at  Versailles 
until  1896,  when  he  accepted  a similar  position  in  Kenton.  In  1901  Mr. 
Gasson  embarked  in  business,  in  Kenton,  on  his  own  account,  and  has 
here  built  up  an  extensive  patronage  as  a druggist. 

Mr.  Gasson  married,  September  27,  1899,  Jennie  D.  Pague,  who  was 
born  in  this  city,  a daughter  of  Alfred  W.  and  Sadie  (Lee)  Pague, 
natives  of  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gasson  have  one  child,  Vernon 
Joye.  Mr.  Gasson  is  a member  of  the  National  Association  of  Retail 
Druggists,  and  of  the  Ohio  State  Pharmaceutical  Association.  Politi- 
cally he  is  a Democrat.  Fraternally  he  belongs  to  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  to  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  and  to  the  Benevolent 
and  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  Religiously  he  is  a Methodist. 

Philip  and  Peter  Boehm. — Among  the  worthy  and  successful 
farmers  of  Washington  township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  are  the  Boehm 
brothers,  who  own  and  occupy  the  old  Boehm  homestead,  a fine  farm  of 
one  hundred  acres,  where  their  father,  John  Boehm,  settled  nearly  thirty 
years  ago. 

John  Boehm  and  his  family  emigrated  from  Germany  to  this  coun- 
try in  1881,  and  came  direct  to  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  where  he  spent 
the  rest  of  his  life  and  died,  his  death  occurring  in  1891.  At  the  time  of 
his  settlement  here  forty  acres  of  his  land  were  covered  with  a heavy 
growth  of  timber.  He  and  his  wife,  Elizabeth  (Neff)  Boehm,  were  the 
parents  of  six  children,  all  born  in  Germany,  namely:  Catherine,  in 

1855,  is  deceased;  John,  Jr.,  1857,  is  deceased;  David,  1859;  Maggie, 
1861 ; Philip,  1864 ; Peter,  1866.  The  mother  died  in  1903. 

Since  1892,  the  Boehm  farm  has  been  owned  and  occupied  by  the 
two  sons,  Peter  and  Philip,  who  have  cleared  away  much  of  the  forest 
and  made  many  needed  repairs  in  the  farm  buildings,  and  as  a result 
of  their  energetic  efforts  the  fields  are  under  a high  state  of  cultivation, 
and  the  general  appearance  of  the  premises  indicates  the  prosperity 
which  is  theirs. 

Both  brothers  are  married.  In  1894,  Philip  Boehm  married  Miss 
Anna  K.  Getzinger,  a native  of  Minnesota,  and  they  have  one  daughter, 
Mary.  In  1890,  Peter  Beohrn  married  Miss  Mary  W.  Barkley,  a native 
of  Pickaway  county,  Ohio.  To  them  have  been  given  six  children : 
Viola,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eleven ; Amelia,  Cora,  Henry  W.,  Kate  A., 
and  Edward  N. 

Another  brother,  John  Boehm,  Jr.,  deceased,  spent  his  life  on  a 
farm  in  Hardin  county.  He  left  five  children,  namely:  J.  P., 

Elizabeth,  Philip  J.,  John  and  Henry.  Of  this  number  Philip  J.  lives 
on  the  home  farm,  a tract  of  fifty  acres.  He  was  born  here  in  1884. 
In  1908,  he  married  Miss  Matilda  Reddick,  a native  of  Hancock  county, 
Ohio,  and  they  have  one  child,  Lester  H. 


690 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


L.  L.  Drumm,  a successful  carpenter  and  farmer  of  Hardin  county, 
Ohio,  whose  home  is  located  in  Mt.  Victory,  was  born  in  Delaware  county, 
Ohio,  January  28,  1855,  and  is  a son  of  William  and  Mary  A.  (Sidels) 
Drumm.  William  Drumm  was  born  in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio, 
December  2,  1824,  and  died  in  1908 ; he  settled  in  Dudley  township, 
Hardin  county,  in  1883,  and  carried  on  a farm  until  1906,  then  moved  to 
Mt.  Victory  and  retired  from  active  life.  He  was  a carpenter  and 
worked  some  at  his  trade,  besides  being  a very  successful  farmer.  He 
was  a member  of  the  Christian  church  and  affiliated  with  the  I.  0.  0.  F. 
Politically  he  was  a Democrat  and  was  actively  interested  in  his  party’s 
interests.  His  wife,  who  was  born  February  12,  1825,  was  a daughter 
of  Jacob  Sidels,  who  died  when  she  was  an  infant.  William  Drumm 
was  a son  of  Peter  and  Permelia  (Dowel)  Drumm,  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, who  came  to  Ohio  in  1819  and  later  located  in  Muskingum,  Dela- 
ware county.  William  Drumm  and  his  wife  were  parents  of  seven 
children,  all  of  whom  are  living,  as  follows : John  Milton,  of  Union 

county;  Peter  S.,  a farmer  of  Dudley  township,  Hardin  county;  William 
A.,  a farmer  of  Buck  township;  L.  L.,  the  fourth  child;  George  W.,  a 
laborer,  living  in  Mt.  Victory;  Virgil,  a carpenter  of  Union  county;  and 
Emma  J.,  wife  of  James  Allen,  of  Bellefontaine. 

The  school  days  of  L.  L.  Drumm  were  passed  in  Delaware  county 
and  he  attended  the  public  schools.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  years  he 
began  working  in  a saw  mill,  which  he  continued  some  time,  and  also 
worked  at  farming.  At  the  age  of  thirty  years  he  took  the  management 
of  the  M.  M.  Thompson,  mayor  of  Kenton,  farm  of  four  hundred  acres, 
and  served  twelve  years.  He  then  purchased  his  farm  in  Dudley 
township,  which  he  successfully  conducted  until  1904,  when  he  sold  it 
and  removed  to  Mt.  Victory,  following  the  carpenter  trade  since  that 
time.  He  is  an  expert  at  his  trade  and  has  been  very  successful  in  all 
his  undertakings.  Mr.  Drumm  has  now  sold  his  farm  and  invested  in 
property  in  Mt.  Victory.  He  is  a man  of  stability  and  influence,  and 
actively  interested  in  public  affairs ; he  is  a Democrat  in  politics  and 
served  five  years  as  a member  of  the  school  board,  also  three  terms  as 
supervisor.  He  has  a host  of  friends,  and  has  been  affiliated  with  the 
I.  O.  O.  F.  eighteen  years.  In  his  dealings  with  his  fellowmen  he  has 
shown  strict  honesty  and  integrity,  and  is  recognized  as  one  of  the 
representative  citizens  of  the  county. 

In  1874  Mr.  Drumm  married  Delilah  Conklin,  born  May  3,  1857, 
daughter  of  William  Conklin,  a farmer  of  Marion  county,  and  a soldier 
in  the  Civil  war,  who  died  in  Andersonville  prison.  He  married  a 
Miss  Preston,  and  they  removed  from  New  York  to  Ohio,  becoming 
pioneers  of  Marion  county.  The  Preston  family  came  from  England 
and  became  pioneers  of  Hardin  county,  being  among  the  earliest 
families  in  the  county.  Mr.  Drumm  and  his  wife  became  parents  of 
children  as  follows:  Wilbert  K.,  married  Lily  Marten;  they  live  in  Mt. 
Victory  and  have  three  children;  Henry  A.,  married  Jenny  Marten, 
sister  of  his  brother  Wilbert’s  wife,  and  they  have  two  children;  Edith 
A.,  wife  of  J.  0.  Moore,  a farmer  of  Hale  township,  has  one  child; 
Floyd  McKinley  is  at  home ; and  Pearl  G.  is  also  at  home.  It  is  a 


JOHN  WHITMORE  AND  FAMILY 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


691 


notable  fact  in  the  Drumm  family  that  until  the  death  of  Mr.  Drumm’s 
father,  in  1908,  there  had  been  no  deaths  in  the  family  for  a period  of 
forty-eight  years. 

William  Kahl,  a hardware  merchant  of  Dola,  Hardin  county,  Ohio, 
was  born  in  1877,  in  the  county  and  township  in  which  he  now  lives, 
son  of  Nicholas  and  Wilhelmina  (Heinish)  Kahl,  natives  of  Germany, 
who  emigrated  to  this  country  about  1859.  On  his  arrival  in  America, 
Nicholas  Kahl  settled  at  Kenton,  in  Hardin  county,  and  subsequently 
he  purchased  a farm  of  one  hundred  acres  in  Washington  township,  to 
which  he  moved,  and  on  which  he  has  since  made  his  home.  He  and  his 
wife  are  the  parents  of  eight  children,  five  of  whom  are  living,  namely: 
Fred,  Emma,  Caroline,  Edward  and  William. 

On  his  father’s  farm  William  passed  his  youth  and  early  manhood, 
assisting  in  the  work  of  the  farm  and  attending  the  district  school. 
Having  a preference  for  a business  life,  he  left  the  home  place  and  en- 
gaged in  general  merchandising,  and  later  devoted  his  attention  exclu- 
sively to  hardware.  He  has  been  in  business  since  1906,  and  recently,  in 
1910,  entered  into  a copartnership  with  Delbert  Reed.  They  carry  a 
full  line  of  first-class  stock  and  are  doing  a prosperous  business. 

September  12,  1907,  Mr.  Kahl  married  Miss  Lena  Reth,  a native  of 
Ada,  Ohio,  born  June  30,  1889.  He  is  a member  of  the  German 
Lutheran  church,  and  stands  high  in  the  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens. 

John  Whitmore. — One  of  the  best  known  citizens  of  Pleasant  town- 
ship, Hardin  county,  Ohio,  and  one  among  its  oldest  residents  is  John 
Whitmore.  He  has  met  with  gratifying  success  in  his  labors,  and  has 
now  retired  from  active  life  and  is  spending  his  remaining  years  in  the 
ease  and  comfort  he  has  so  well  earned.  Mr.  Whitmore  was  born  in 
Northumberland  county,  Pennsylvania,  September  11,  1827,  a son  of 
Peter  and  Catherine  Whitmore,  both  formerly  of  that  state.  Peter 
Whitmore  and  his  wife  had  children  as  follows : Polly,  Elizabeth, 

Catherine,  Sarah,  Louisa,  Daniel,  Peter  and  John.  John  is  the  only 
one  who  moved  to  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  and  he  and  Louisa,  the  latter  of 
Richland  county,  Ohio,  are  the  only  surviving  members  of  the  family. 

In  1856  Mr.  Whitmore  moved  to  Ohio  and  settled  in  his  present, 
home,  purchasing  one  hundred  acres  of  land.  He  added  to  his  land 
sixty  acres  and  a half  interest  in  fifty-five  acres,  both  located  in  Blan- 
chard township,  Hardin  county.  He  set  to  work  to  improve  his  land 
and  erected  good  buildings.  He  built  a saw  mill  and  operated  it  thirty 
years.  Mr.  Whitmore  was  an  enterprising,  thrifty  farmer,  and  became 
very  prosperous;  his  honesty  and  high  character  were  recognized  by  all, 
and  he  had  the  highest  esteem  of  his  neighbors. 

On  March  10,  1859,  Mr.  Whitmore  married  Margaret  J.  Gardner, 
who  was  born  in  Richland  county,  Ohio,  September  22,  1834,  and  died  in 
1899.  To  them  were  born  children  as  follows:  Peter  M.,  born  in  1860, 
died  in  1861;  Elcey  C.,  born  in  1863,  died  in  1879;  Sarah  E.,  born  in 
1865,  died  in  1869;  Ora  L„  Mrs.  J.  II..  Cessna,  born  in  1868;  Eliza  J„ 
Mrs.  O.  W.  Schwemmer,  born  in  1870;  one  child  who  died  in  infancy; 


692 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Clarinda,  Mrs.  S.  C.  Stewart,  born  in  1872 ; and  Lulu  A.,  Mrs.  C.  M. 
Cessna,  born  in  1877.  Eleey  Oates  left  three  children,  Lowel,  Carrie 
and  John.  To  Mrs.  E.  J.  Sehwemmer  three  children  have  been  born, 
Hazel  C.,  C.  W.  and  Arline  B.  Mrs.  Ora  L.  Cessna  had  three  children 
born,  Olda,  Margaret  and  Dana.  Mrs.  Clarinda  Stewart  had  one  son, 
Irvin  G.  Mrs.  Lulu  A.  Cessna  has  two  children,  Geneva  and  Dwight. 
Mr.  Whitmore  has,  therefore,  twelve  grandchildren.  He  has  also  two 
great-grandchildren. 

In  politics  he  was  first,  a Whig  then  a “Know  Nothing”  and  after- 
ward a Republican  until  he  supported  Bryan  and  became  a champion  of 
free  silver  and  he  is  still  a Bryan  man.  Mrs.  Whitmore  was  a member 
of  the  United  Brethren  church  and  as  is  also  the  family. 

D.  LI.  Dome  & Son. — The  firm  of  D.  II.  Dome  & Son,  of  Forest, 
Ohio,  dealers  in  clothing,  footwear  and  gent’s  furnishings,  has  one  of  the 
main  business  establishments  in  Forest.  Their  stock  is  kept  up-to-date, 
and  of  a superior  cpiality,  which  warrants  the  fine  trade  they  enjoy. 
Their  treatment  of  customers  is  at  all  times  courteous  and  businesslike, 
and  their  store  is  well  lighted  and  commodious. 

D.  H.  Dome,  senior  member  of  the  firm,  was  born  in  Richland 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  was  reared,  and  where  he  married  Alice  Kisor,  of 
Wyandot  county.  He  owns  several  farms  in  Wyandot  county,  which  he 
rents  very  successfully,  the  date  of  his  removal  to  Hardin  county  being 
1904.  To  Mr.  Dome  and  his  wife  but  one  child  was  born,  U.  J.,  junior 
partner  of  the  firm  above  mentioned. 

IT.  J.  Dome  was  born  in  Wyandot  county,  Ohio,  in  1888,  was  reared 
in  his  native  county,  and  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools. 
He  also  took  a course  at.  Lima  Business  College,  from  which  institution 
he  was  graduated  in  1901.  He  is  an  enterprising  and  industrious 
business  man,  of  pleasant  manner  and  address,  and  takes  great  interest 
and  pride  in  the  success  of  the  firm  with  which  he  is  connected.  Both 
he  and  his  father  command  universal  respect  and  have  won  many  friends 
in  Forest. 

Reverend  J.  F.  TTenkee,  D.  D.,  pastor  of  the  Methodist  Protestant 
church  of  Forest,  was  born  in  Fayette  county,  Ohio,  May  13,  1847.  He 
was  reared  and  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  county,  and 
profited  well  by  his  years  of  study,  being  intensely  interested  in  the 
acquirement  of  knowledge,  so  that  he  laid  the  foundation  for  his  future 
career,  that  has  always  stood  him  in  good  stead.  He  is  naturally  of  a 
studious,  quiet  disposition,  and  thinks  deeply  along  any  lines  in  which  he 
is  interested.  In  1876  he  was  admitted  to  the  Ohio  Conference,  and 
his  first  locations  were  in  Fayette  and  Madison  counties.  During  the 
thirty-four  years  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  ministry  he  has  been  con- 
stantly working  within  the  boundaries  of  the  same  conference.  His 
life  in  the  cause  of  the  gospel  has  been  a long  and  earnest  one,  and  he  has 
converted  many  souls  for  the  church.  He  has  been  very  successful  in 
his  work,  and  during  his  pastorate  he  has  been  instrumental  in  erecting 
two  new  church  buildings,  at  Milledgeville,  Fayette  county,  and  Big 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


693 


Springs,  Logan  county.  He  also  built  a parsonage  at  Manchester, 
Adams  county. 

Reverend  Henkle  has  always  been  in  excellent  standing  with  the 
members  of  the  Conference,  for  three  years  ably  discharging  the  duties 
of  the  office  of  president  of  the  Conference.  His  relations  with  his  church 
members  and  attendants  have  been  mutually  pleasant,  and  he  has  closed 
his  service  in  various  places  to  the  mutual  regret  of  all.  He  has  held 
all  important  offices  in  the  Conference,  and  is  now  treasurer  of  the 
Board  of  Church  Extension,  which  post  he  has  held  twenty-one  years. 
He  is  also  treasurer  of  the  Preachers’  Aid  Society,  president  of  the 
Ohio  Campmeeting  Association  at  Sabina,  Clinton  county,  Ohio,  and  was 
secretary  a long  term  of  years.  For  the  last  fourteen  years  he  has 
served  as  a trustee  of  the  college  at  Adrian.  Michigan,  and  as  recogni- 
tion of  his  erudition  and  general  ability,  this  college  conferred  upon  him 
the  well  deserved  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity.  Reverend  Henkle  is  a 
member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Knights  of 
Pythias. 

Dr.  Henkle  has  labored  well  and  faithfully  at  Forest,  Ohio,  since 
1906,  and  there  enjoys  the  friendship  and  esteem  of  all  who  know  him. 
He  expounds  the  principles  of  the  Gospel  in  an  able  and  scholarly 
manner,  with  an  earnestness  and  force  which  have  gained  him  a wide 
reputation.  He  has  a large  congregation,  and  the  stranger  is  always 
welcome  within  the  precincts  of  the  church. 

Dr.  Henkle ’s  parents  were  Captain  Ephraim  and  Mary  S.  (Carr) 
Henkle,  both  natives  of  Fayette  county.  Captain  Henkle  was  a pros- 
perous farmer  and  owned  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land.  Al- 
though exempt  from  service  in  the  Union  army  on  account  of  age,  he 
organized  a company  in  1864,  at  the  time  of  the  invasion  of  northern 
states  by  the  Confederate  army,  commanded  Company  F,  One  Hundred 
Sixty-eighth  Ohio  National  Guard,  advanced  to  the  front,  and  was 
captured  by  John  Morgan,  though  soon  recaptured  by  Union  troops. 
Though  his  service  was  brief  it  was  eventful,  and  he  served  his  country 
well.  He  had  the  following  children:  Ellen,  deceased;  Mary  J.,  Mrs. 

Bush;  William  L. ; Jason  F. ; Noah  S. ; Joel  E. ; Jesse  C. ; Catherine  J. ; 
Mrs.  Hyer ; Amanda  S. ; Mrs.  Dowden ; Almeda  L. ; Mrs.  Cohogen ; and 
J.  F.  Captain  Henkle  began  life  a poor  boy,  and  by  his  industry  and 
ambition  became  well-to-do,  at  his  death  having  an  estate  of  $20,000. 

Dr.  Henkle  married  (first)  in  1872,  Laura  O’Day;  to  them  was  born 
one  child  that  died  in  infancy,  in  1873,  four  months  after  the  death  of 
the  mother.  Dr.  Henkle  married  (second)  in  1878,  Nona  Hamm,  of 
London,  Ohio,  and  to  this  union  were  born  six  children,  only  two  of 
whom  grew  to  maturity,  Mary,  born  in  1881  and  Allan  E.,  in  1890. 
The  former  is  a graduate  of  the  classical  course  of  Adrian  College,  in 
the  class  of  1905,  and  now  a successful  teacher  in  Montana.  The  latter 
is  a student  at  Adrian  College,  where  he  is  taking  a scientific  course. 

H.  Dale  Shields,  a successful  druggist  of  Forest,  is  one  of  the 
enterprising  and  progressive  citizens  of  that  town.  He  is  a native  of 
Forest,  born  March  22,  1878,  and  is  a son  of  J.  L.  and  Adeline  (Wilson) 


694 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Shields.  J.  L.  Shields  was  born  in  1840,  in  Ross  county,  Ohio,  and  came 
to  Hardin  county  in  1852 ; he  learned  the  trade  of  shoemaker,  at  which 
he  worked  ten  years,  and  about  1865  embarked  in  livery  business,  which 
he  carried  on  ten  years.  For  the  last  seventeen  years  he  has  been  con- 
ducting a harness  business  in  Forest.  He  was  married  in  1872,  and 
had  three  children,  two  of  whom  survive,  namely:  H.  F.,  a druggist, 

and  H.  Dale.  J.  L.  Shields  is  a devout  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  and  belongs  to  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows 
and  its  Encampment.  His  parents  were  Samuel  and  Mary  (Clayton) 
Shields,  who  had  three  children,  J.  L.,  Rebecca  and  Nancy.  Samuel 
Shields  died  when  J.  L.  was  six  years  of  age,  and  his  widow  married 
(second)  David  Warrener,  who  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Hardin 
county.  Mr.  Warrener  took  an  active  part  in  the  construction  of  the 
Big  Four  Railroad;  he  had  three  children  by  this  marriage,  only  one  of 
whom  survives,  Mrs.  Wilson,  whose  husband  is  a native  of  New  York. 

H.  Dale  Shields  graduated  from  Forest  high  school,  and  later  took 
a course  in  pharmacy  at  the  Northwestern  University  at  Ada,  Ohio, 
graduating  in  1901.  Upon  returning  home  he  opened  a drug  store  in 
Forest,  where  by  his  close  attention  to  business  and  his  ability  and 
industry,  he  has  built  up  a good  patronage. 

Mr.  Shields  served  in  the  Spanish-American  war,  being  enrolled  in 
Company  I,  Second  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  for  one  year,  and  then 
honorably  discharged.  He  belongs  to  Senate  Lodge,  Ancient  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  of  Forest,  also  to  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  having  passed  the  chairs  in  the  two 
last  named.  He  also  belongs  to  the  Royal  Arcanum,  of  which  he  has 
served  nine  years  as  secretary.  He  is  an  earnest  and  active  member  of 
the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  During  his  business  career  in 
Forest  Mr.  Shields  has  acceptably  filled  the  post  of  corporation  clerk. 

George  A.  IIively,  who  owns  and  occupies  a fine  farm  of  ninety 
acres  in  Washington  township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  is  one  of  the 
representative  farmers  and  highly  respected  citizens  of  this  locality. 
Mr.  IIively  was  born  on  the  farm  on  which  he  now  lives,  June  1,  1853, 
son  of  Samuel  and  Mary  (Lower)  Hiyely,  natives  of  Columbiana  county, 
this  state.  At  an  early  day  in  the  history  of  Hardin  county,  Samuel 
IIively  came  here  and  purchased  three  eighty-acre  tracts,  built  a log 
house  for  his  family,  and  in  true  pioneer  style  settled  down  to  the  work 
of  clearing  and  cultivating  his  land.  In  time,  his  primitive  cabin  gave 
way  to  a substantial  resdence  of  modern  construction,  and  in  place  of 
the  forest  were  well  cultivated  fields.  To  him  and  his  wife  were  born 
six  children,  namely:  Malinda  A.,  Amanda  A.,  George  A.,  Elizabeth, 
David  and  Emma,  all  now  living  in  Hardin  county.  The  parents  died 
here  in  1899,  the  father’s  death  occurring  two  weeks  before  the  mother’s. 
Her  parents,  Daniel  and  Barbara  E.  (Obenour)  Lower,  were  prominent 
early  settlers  of  Columbiana  county.  Daniel  IIively  entered  two  eighty- 
acre  tracts  from  the  government  and  gave  the  land  to  his  children. 

George  A.  Hively  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm  and  received  his 
education  in  the  district  school,  and  here  he  has  continued  in  the  same 


MR.  AND  MRS.  FAYETTE  SCHOONOVER 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


695 


occupation  in  which  his  ancestors  were  engaged.  His  father  cleared 
two  of  the  three  eighties  above  referred  to,  and  he  has  cleared  the  other. 
Since  1875  he  has  owned  the  farm  on  which  he  lives. 

In  1874,  George  A.  Hively  married  Miss  Mary  Lentz,  daughter  of 
John  and  Mary  (Daniels)  Lentz;  and  the  fruits  of  this  union  are  three 
sons:  Anthony  S.,  born  May  16,  1876;  David  F.,  February  11,  1879,  and 
William  A.,  May  31,  1887.  Anthony  S.,  the  eldest  son,  is  a prosperous 
farmer  and  has  eighty  acres  of  valuable  land  adjacent  to  his  father’s 
which  he  has  owned  since  1902.  He  was  married  in  1900,  and  lias  two 
children,  Paul  M.  and  Corlean  M.  His  wife,  formerly  Miss  Lena 
Casper,  daughter  of  John  M.  and  Minnie  Casper,  was  born  on  her 
father’s  farm  in  Washington  township,  Hardin  county,  October  15, 
1875 ; David  F.  married  in  March,  1909,  Gertrude  Slater,  of  Henry 
county,  and  they  have  one  child  Esther  E.,  born  November  7,  1909, 
William  A.  was  married  June  3,  1909  to  Mary  Haub  of  Washington 
township,  Hardin  county. 

The  Hivelys  are  worthy  members  of  the  Church  of  Christ,  in  which 
George  A.  holds  the  office  of  deacon. 

Fayette  Schoonover. — For  more  than  three  score  and  ten  years  of 
his  long  and  useful  life  Fayette  Schoonover  has  been  a resident  of 
Pleasant  township,  Hardin  county,  and  since  attaining  manhood  has 
been  conspicuously  identified  with  the  best  interests  of  town  and  county, 
generously  using  his  influence  to  promote  the  public  welfare.  As  a 
successful  agriculturist,  a trustworthy  citizen  and  a man  of  strict 
integrity  and  high  moral  principles,  he  has  the  respect  and  esteem  of  the 
entire  community  in  which  he  has  so  long  resided.  A son  of  Joseph 
Schoonover,  he  was  born,  in  1825,  in  Tioga  county,  New  York,  where  the 
days  of  his  childhood  were  passed. 

Joseph  Schoonover  was  born  January  5,  1775,  in  Delaware.  Mov- 
ing from  there  to  New  York  state,  he  lived  a number  of  years  in  Tioga 
county.  Following  the  tide  of  emigration  westward,  he  came  to  Ohio 
in  1838,  locating  in  Pleasant  township,  Hardin  county.  Buying  eighty 
acres  of  wild  and  wooded  land,  he  began  the  arduous  task  of  reclaiming 
a farm.  There  had  been  erected  thereon  a small  log  cabin ; he  and  his 
family  endured  the  trials  and  privations  of  life  in  a new  country  with 
fortitude  and  patience,  and  in  due  course  of  time  he  met  with  such 
success  in  his  labors  that  he  bought  another  tract  of  eighty  acres.  On 
the  homestead  which  he  improved  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life, 
dying  July  18,  1865,  at  a venerable  age.  He  married,  probably,  in 
Tioga  county,  New  York,  Margaret  Decker,  who  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania in  1782,  and  died  in  Pleasant  township  in  1852.  They  were  the 
parents  of  eleven  children,  ten  of  whom  grew  to  years  of  maturity, 
namely:  Jacob,  Daniel,  David,  Hannah,  Lydia,  Elias,  Simeon,  Maria, 

Fayette  and  Franklin. 

When  ready  to  begin  the  battle  of  life  for  himself  Fayette  Schoon- 
over purchased  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres  of  land  not  far  from 
the  parental  homestead  in  Pleasant  township,  but  before  assuming  its 
possession  he  sold  forty  acres  of  the  tract.  Regretting,  however,  with 


696 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


the  parting  of  any  of  his  land  he  subsequently  bought  the  forty  acres 
back  again.  Meeting  with  excellent  results  in  his  agricultural  ventures, 
Mr.  Schoonover  wisely  made  other  investments  in  real  estate,  at  one  time 
holding  title  to  two  hundred  and  sixty-five  acres  of  valuable  land. 
During  his  years  of  activity  he  cleared  and  improved  three  farms,  two 
of  which  he  sold  at  an  advantage,  keeping  his  home  farm  of  sixty-five 
acres.  This  he  has  brought  to  a good  state  of  cultivation,  rendering  it 
one  of  the  most  productive  estates  in  the  vicinity. 

On  November  26,  18-16,  Mr.  Schoonover  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Elizabeth  Holmes,  who  was  born,  February  22,  1829,  in  Carroll  county, 
Ohio,  a daughter  of  Richard  and  Catherine  Holmes.  Fifteen  children 
were  born  of  their  union,  namely:  Emma,  Alva,  Hannah,  Lydia,  Mary, 
David,  Iva,  May,  Della,  Joseph,  Eva,  Richard,  George,  Frank  and  Kate. 
Mary,  Iva,  Richard  and  Frank  are  the  only  ones  now  living.  Mary  is 
the  wife  of  C.  B.  Hickernell,  and  is  the  mother  of  five  children:  John, 
Helen,  Warren,  Bessie  and  Charles.  Iva,  who  married  W.  A.  Holmes, 
has  four  children,  Leah,  Amy,  Roy  and  Ray.  Richard  married  May 
Thompson,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  three  children,  Merritt  E.,  Karl 
T.  and  Harry  F.  Frank  married  Rosa  Cake  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren, Irene  and  Edwin.  A prominent  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  to  which  his  family  also  belong,  Mr.  Schoonover  has 
served  as  steward  of  the  church,  and  for  many  years  has  held  the  office 
of  class  leader,  filling  the  duties  of  the  position  with  ability  and  dignity. 
The  sixty-third  anniversary  of  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schoonover 
was  celebrated  on  the  26th  of  November,  1909,  and  was  attended  by  their 
three  children,  seven  grandchildren,  and  four  great-grandchildren. 

John  Weir,  who  lives  in  Forest,  Ohio,  and  owns  a farm  in  Jackson 
township,  Hardin  county,  was  born  in  Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  February 
28.  1844.  He  is  a son  of  Robert  and  Elizabeth  (Hamilton)  Weir,  the 
former  born  in  Ireland,  in  1805,  and  the  latter,  of  Irish  parentage,  died 
in  1868.  Robert  Weir  was  a blacksmith  by  trade  and  an  expert 

mechanic.  He  enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Eighteenth  Regiment 

Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  died  in  active  service  at  Falmouth, 
Kentucky,  in  1862.  His  eight  children  were:  Margaret,  Elizabeth, 
Eleanor  (deceased),  Sarah  (deceased),  Mary  D.  (deceased),  John, 
Thomas  J.  (deceased),  and  Robert  A.  John  is  the  only  one  living  in 
Hardin  county. 

The  early  childhood  of  John  Weir  was  passed  in  Coshocton  county 
and  he  received  the  latter  part  of  his  education  in  Hardin  county,  Ohio, 
to  which  place  his  parents  removed  when  he  was  thirteen  years  of  age. 
He  purchased  a farm  of  forty  acres  in  Jackson  township,  where  he  lived 
forty-two  years,  and  brought  it  to  a high  state  of  cultivation.  He 
became  a successful  farmer  and  has  now  retired  from  active  life,  to  live 
in  the  town  of  Forest,  the  farm  being  carried  on  by  his  son.  Mr.  Weir 
served  as  township  trustee  seven  years  and  has  for  the  two  years  past 
held  the  office  of  township  assessor,  which  he  still  holds.  He  is  well 
known  and  highly  respected,  being  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  the 
town.  He  now  deals  extensively  in  stock,  buying  and  shipping  to 
Buffalo,  New  York,  and  ships  about  three  carloads  weekly. 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


697 


Mr.  Weir  has  been  married  twice,  first,  December  19,  1867,  to 
Miriam  Case,  and  to  this  union  were  born  children  as  follows : Professor 
W.  0.  Weir,  superintendent  of  the  Dunkirk  school ; Arthur  J. ; Edgar 
C. ; and  Clarence  0.  Mrs.  Weir  died  October  3,  1907,  and  Mr.  Weir 
married  (second)  in  1909,  Sadie  Yarnell. 

Adam  Krammer,  of  Washington  township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  is 
a fair  example  of  the  Americanized  German,  whose  loyalty  to  his  adopted 
country  together  with  his  hard  work  and  good  management  have  placed 
him  in  a position  where  he  enjoys  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  fellow 
citizens.  He  was  born  in  Germany,  in  1841,  son  of  Peter  and  Barbara 
Krammer.  The  father  died  in  Germany  in  1859,  and  a few  years  later, 
in  1866,  the  mother  came  to  America  and  took  up  her  residence  in 
Columbus,  Ohio.  They  were  the  parents  of  eight  children:  Peter, 

Annie,  Barbara  (1),  Barbara  (2),  Adam  (1),  Adam  (2),  Catherine  and 
Abalona,  most  of  whom  are  deceased. 

In  his  native  land  the  subject  of  our  sketch  grew  to  manhood,  re- 
ceived a liberal  education,  and  learned  the  trade  of  stone  cutter.  He 
worked  at  his  trade  there  until  1871,  when  he  came  to  America.  Land- 
ing in  this  country  on  the  24th  of  June,  he  made  his  way  to  Columbus, 
Ohio,  where  his  mother  had  settled,  and  there  for  two  years  Adam  con- 
tinued to  work  at  his  trade.  In  1873  he  came  to  Hardin  county,  and 
that  same  year  he  bought  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Washington  township. 
Two  years  later  he  bought  thirty-five  acres  more,  and  in  1904  he  pur- 
chased an  additional  forty  acres.  Thus  not  by  speculation  but  by 
persistent  labor  and  careful  management  he  in  time  acquired  a fine 
tract  of  land,  which  he  paid  for  with  its  own  products.  Of  this  hun- 
dred and  fifty-five  acres  he  has  cleared  sixty-five ; he  has  ditched  and 
drained  his  land,  erected  buildings,  and  made  various  other  improve- 
ments and  today  ranks  with  the  up-to-date  farmers  of  his  community. 

In  1865,  in  Germany,  Mr.  Krammer  was  first  married,  to  Eva  Orris, 
whose  death  a few  years  later  left  him  with  a family  of  small  children. 
One  child  died  in  Germany,  and  another  in  this  country  the  year  follow- 
ing their  settlement  here.  Two  of  the  children  of  that  marriage,  Kate 
and  Lizzie,  are  still  living.  In  March,  1873,  Mr.  Krammer  married  Miss 
Dena  Eibling,  who  has  borne  him  seven  children,  six  of  whom  are 
living:  Minnie,  Anna,  Flora,  Louis,  Carl,  and  Henry.  Mrs.  Krammer 
is  a native  of  Marion  county,  Ohio. 

Mr.  Krammer  was  elected  supervisor  of  Washington  township,  an 
office  he  filled  for  six  years.  From  the  beginning  of  his  identity  with 
the  township  he  has  always  shown  a deep  interest  in  its  affairs.  He 

takes  a just  pride  in  the  fact  that  he  is  an  American  citizen.  He 

worships  with  the  German  Reformed  church  of  Kenton,  Ohio,  of  which 
he  and  his  family  are  worthy  members. 

Samuel  Briggs,  a prominent  and  respected  citizen  of  Forest,  is  a 
retired  farmer.  He  was  born  in  Richland  county,  Ohio,  July  17,  1834, 
and  is  a son  of  William  and  Mary  (Banks)  Briggs,  both  natives  of 
Lincolnshire,  England,  from  which  place  they  emigrated  to  America  in 


698 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


1833.  They  located  in  Richland  county,  Ohio,  where  William  Briggs 
purchased  two  quarter  sections,  to  which  he  soon  added  another  quarter 
section,  and  subsequently  added  eighty  acres  more  to  his  estate.  He  was 
a thrifty,  industrious,  and  progressive  farmer,  and  became  an  influen- 
tial citizen.  His  children  were:  William,  George,  Mary,  Robert, 

Samuel  and  Matthew.  The  first  four  children  were  born  in  England 
and  the  last  two  in  Richland  county,  Ohio ; Samuel  is  the  only  one 
surviving. 

Samuel  Briggs  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native  county,  and 
when  old  enough  worked  out  for  neighboring  farmers  by  the  day  or 
month.  In  1861  he  removed  to  Hardin  county,  and  there  bought  his 
first  farm  of  eighty  acres,  which  was  then  almost  in  its  wild  state.  This 
farm  cost  him  eleven  hundred  dollars,  and  in  1857  he  sold  it  for  twenty- 
eight  hundred.  He  then  purchased  a farm  of  eighty  acres  in  Hancock 
county,  Ohio,  which  he  improved  and  sold,  doubling  his  investment.  In 
1879  Mr.  Briggs  purchased  his  present  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres,  which  contains  gas  wells  in  operation.  Later  he  pur- 
chased twenty  acres  in  Forest,  besides  which  he  owns  the  house  and  lot 
where  he  resides.  Mr.  Briggs  enjoys  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his 
fellow  citizens,  and  has  served  the  town  as  councilman  and  a member  of 
the  school  board.  While  living  on  his  farm  he  served  as  trustee  of 
Jackson  township.  Mr.  Briggs  is  a member  of  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows,  in  which  order  he  is  a past  noble  grand.  In  1861  Mr. 
Briggs  married  Jane  Spencer,  who  was  born  in  1840,  and  they  became 
parents  of  two  children,  Mrs.  Irene  Snyder  and  Mrs.  C.  Dunham. 

Dr.  F.  F.  Swimley,  one  of  the  leading  physicians  of  Forest,  where 
he  has  been  practicing  some  eleven  years,  has  one  of  the  best  equipped 
offices  in  Hardin  county  for  the  practice  of  medicine  and  surgery.  He 
was  born  in  Springfield,  Ohio,  in  1871,  and  is  a son  of  Dr.  W.  A.  and 
Anna  (Hopkins)  Swimley.  Dr.  W.  A.  Swimley  was  born  in  Winches- 
ter, Virginia,  and  his  wife  was  a native  of  Champlain  county,  Ohio.  He 
is  a graduate  of  Ohio  Medical  College,  of  Cincinnati,  and  first  located  in 
Patterson,  Hardin  county,  in  1879 ; later  he  removed  to  Forest,  where  he 
remained  a number  of  years  and  finally  returned  to  Winchester,  Vir- 
ginia, his  old  home.  He  and  his  first  wife  had  but  one  child,  Dr.  F.  F. 
Dr.  W.  A.  Swimley  married  (second)  Ella  Powell,  of  Springfield,  Ohio, 
by  whom  he  had  three  children,  Lizzie,  Dr.  A.  C.  and  Alonzo  R.,  a phar- 
macist,. The  two  latter  are  located  at  Winchester,  practicing  their 
professions.  Dr.  W.  A.  Swimley  is  a physician  of  wide  reputation  and 
ability,  and  is  well  known  through  Hardin  county. 

Dr.  F.  F.  Swimley  received  his  early  education  in  the  common 
schools  and  in  Kenton  high  school,  and  later  received  a liberal  education 
in  the  line  of  medicine  and  surgery.  He  graduated  from  the  Illinois 
College  of  Pharmacy,  a branch  of  Chicago  University,  in  1890,  and  for 
ten  years  practiced  pharmacy.  In  1898  he  graduated  from  the  medical 
department  of  Columbus  University,  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  took  two 
special  post-graduate  courses  on  the  diseases  of  the  heart  and  lungs,  of 
which  he  makes  a specialty.  He  is  a member  of  the  State  Medical  Asso- 


MR.  AND  MRS.  C.  B.  DRUMM 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


699 


eiation,  and  stands  high  in  his  profession.  Dr.  Swimley  has  won  the 
confidence  of  the  people  of  Forest,  and  has  a good  practice.  He  belongs 
to  the  Masonic  Order,  in  which  he  has  taken  thirty-two  degrees,  and  is 
also  a member  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  In 
1892  Dr.  Swimley  married  Maud  M.,  daughter  of  Captain  Joseph  L. 
Dickelman ; they  have  no  children. 

Charles  Drumm,  an  enterprising  and  up-to-date  stock  farmer  of 
Goshen  township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  was  born  in  1881  on  the  farm  he 
now  owns  and  operates.  Both  his  paternal  and  maternal  grandparents 
were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Ohio.  John  Drumm,  a tailor  by  trade, 
came  to  this  state  in  1833  and  settled  in  Hardin  county,  where  he  and  his 
wife,  Martha,  reared  their  family  and  passed  their  lives.  Their  chil- 
dren, in  order  of  birth,  were  Channcev,  James,  John,  Jackson,  William, 
C.  B.,  Jane  and  Martha,  and  all  are  deceased.  C.  B.  Drumm  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania,  September  7,  1831,  and  was  quite  small  when  brought 
by  his  parents  to  Ohio.  On  January  18,  1876,  he  married  Miss  Jennie 
Cowan,  a native  of  Ohio,  whose  parents.  Joseph  and  Isabell  Cowan,  were 
among  the  pioneers  of  Hardin  county.  Joseph  Cowan  bought  and  im- 
proved the  farm  which  is  now  owned  and  occupied  by  his  grandson, 
Charles  Drumm.  C.  B.  Drumm  and  wife  were  retired  residents  of 
Kenton,  Ohio,  and  he  died  January  25,  1910.  To  them  were  born  two 
children.  Bell  and  Charles,  the  former  now  being  deceased. 

'During  the  Civil  war  C.  B.  Drumm  served  his  country  faithfully 
and  well  as  a soldier  in  the  Union  army.  He  enlisted  on  August  22, 
1862,  as  a private  in  Company  A,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-third  Ohio 
Volunteer  Infantry,  the  fortunes  of  which  he  shared  until  the  close  of 
the  war.  He  Avas  in  numerous  engagements  in  Virginia,  Avas  often  in 
the  thickest  of  the  fight,  and  on  April  6,  1865,  at  High  Bridge,  Virginia, 
Avas  taken  prisoner  by  the  enemy.  This,  however,  Avas  only  three  days 
before  the  close  of  the  war,  Avhen  all  prisoners  Avere  released.  He  was 
honorably  discharged  on  June  13,  1865. 

Charles  Drumm  was  reared  on  the  home  farm,  and  on  reaching 
adult  age  assumed  charge  of  the  farming  operations,  Avhich  he  has  since 
successfully  conducted.  October  3,  1906,  he  married  Miss  Florence 
Latham,  Avho  was  born  in  Goshen  tOAAmship,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  on 
March  9,  1884,  a daughter  of  H.  B.  and  Mary  Latham.  Fraternally, 
Mr.  Drumm  is  identified  Avith  the  Masonic  order  at  Kenton,  and  both  he 
and  his  Avife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church  there. 

John  N.  Pfeiffer,  one  of  the  prominent  business  men  of  Forest, 
was  born  in  Goshen  township,  Hardin  county,  in  1877 ; he  Avas  reared  on 
his  father’s  farm  at  Pfeiffer’s  Station,  and  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools.  He  is  a son  of  John  and  Margaret  (Hile)  Pfeiffer, 
both  natives  of  Goshen  township.  The  father,  John  Pfeiffer,  oAvnecl  the 
old  historic  Wheeler  Tavern,  which  is  mentioned  at  length  elseAvhere  in 
this  work.  He  died  March  4,  1904,  and  his  Avife  is  still  a resident  of 
Hardin  county.  He  Avas  Avell  known  throughout  the  county  and  held 
many  offices  in  his  native  toAvnship  and  county.  He  had  many  friends, 


700 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


and  stood  well  in  the  community,  where  his  loss  was  universally  mourned. 
He  and  his  wife  had  eleven  children,  namely:  Lizzie  (deceased),  Mary 
(deceased),  Sophia,  William,  Anna,  Edward,  Minnie,  Reverend  Joseph 
(of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church),  John  N.,  Earl  and  Bessie. 

John  N.  Pfeiffer  located  in  Forest  in  1903,  and  the  same  year  mar- 
ried Bertha,  daiighter  of  Louis  Crum ; they  have  no  children.  Mrs. 
Pfeiffer  was  born  in  1879,  in  Dunkirk,  Ohio.  For  six  years  Mr.  Pfeiffer 
has  carried  on  a profitable  business  as  dealer  in  wagons,  buggies,  automo- 
biles and  storm  wagons.  He  is  a member  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  and  is  Chief  Patriarch  of  the  Encampment.  He  and 
his  wife  are  earnest  and  active  members  of  the  German  Reformed  church. 
He  is  a public-spirited,  useful  citizen,  actively  interested  in  public  affairs. 

'C.  M.  Reigle,  a rising  attorney  of  the  Hardin  county  bar,  lives  in 
Forest.  He  was  born  on  a farm  in  Madison  township,  Hancock  county, 
Ohio,  in  1869,  and  is  a son  of  Elias  S.  and  Catherine  E.  (Cramer) 
Reigle,  the  former  a native  of  Wyandot  county,  Ohio.  Catherine  E. 
Cramer  was  born  in  Germany,  and  emigrated  to  America  in  her  youth; 
she  had  been  liberally  educated,  and  became  a teacher  in  the  Hancock 
county  schools.  Elias  S.  and  Catherine  Reigle  had  five  children.  Mr. 
Reigle  served  his  country  in  the  Civil  war  and  was  a member  of  one  of 
the  three  companies  which  went  from  Ohio  and  later  were  merged  into 
a company  of  sharpshooters;  they  accompanied  Sherman  on  the  famous 
“March  to  the  Sea.’’  Mr.  Reigle  was  wounded  at'  Atlanta,  also  at 
Resaca,  Georgia. 

C.  M.  Reigle  was  reared  on  a farm  and  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  township  and  at  Findley,  Ohio.  He 
studied  law  at  the  latter  town  and  matriculated  in  the  Northern  Ohio 
University  at  Ada,  Ohio,  from  which  institution  he  graduated  in  1893. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  the  same  year,  since  which  time  he  has  been  a 
resident  of  Forest.  He  stands  high  in  his  profession,  and  has  the 
confidence  and  esteem  of  all  who  have  had  dealings  with  him.  Before 
his  study  of  law  he  taught  school  nine  years  in  Hancock  county.  He  is 
a member  of  the  Baptist  church  of  Forest,  and  for  a number  of  years 
filled  the  responsible  office  of  superintendent  of  Jackson  Township 
Sunday  School  Association,  which  post  he  still  holds. 

October  23,  1893,  Mr.  Reigle  married  Addie  A.,  daughter  of  William 
P.  and  Ann  E.  Harman,  and  to  this  union  has  been  born  one  daughter, 
Lois,  born  in  1895.  Mr.  Reigle  is  a self-made  man,  a public-spirited 
citizen,  and  actively  interested  in  public  affairs. 

Joseph  IT.  Van  Houten,  who  ranks  with  the  prosperous  and  highly 
respected  farmers  of  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  occupies  seventy-five  acres 
of  fine  land  in  Washington  township,  which  he  has  owned  since  1902. 
Here  he  has  erected  a complete  set  of  farm  buildings,  among  the  finest 
in  Ohio,  and  made  other  improvements,  thus  enhancing  the  value  of  his 
property,  and  here  he  is  carrying  on  general  farming.  He  formerly 
owned  sixty  acres  more,  which  he  sold. 

Mr.  Van  Houten  is  a native  of  Ohio.  He  was  born  in  Morrill 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


701 


county,  in  1864,  son  of  Joseph  H.  and  Caroline  (Keller)  Van  Houten, 
the  former  a native  of  that  county  and  the  latter  of  New  Jersey.  The 
father  owned  a farm  and  passed  his  life  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He 
was  a veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  for  three  years  having  served  his  country 
faithfully  and  well  as  a private  in  Company  E,  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-first  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  died  in  1902;  his  wife,  in 
1901.  They  were  the  parents  of  five  children:  Charles,  Joseph  H., 
William  B.,  Alice  and  Lora,  all  residents  of  Hardin  county,  except 
Charles,  who  is  deceased.  Lora  is  the  wife  of  a Mr.  Ludwig. 

Joseph  H.  Van  Houten,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  spent  his  hoy- 
hood  and  received  his  education  in  Richland  county,  from  whence,  in 
1879,  he  came  to  Hardin  county,  where  he  has  since  resided.  Previous 
to  settling  down  as  a farmer,  he  was  for  fourteen  years  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  lumber.  As  showing  his  pluck  and  good  management, 
we  state  that  Mr.  Van  Houten  bought  his  first  land  at  $35  per  acre,  and 
went  in  debt  for  it.  In  ten  years’  time  he  made  it  pay  for  itself,  and 
he  then  sold  out  for  $60  per  acre,  thus  nearly  doubling  the  purchase 
price. 

In  1880  Mr.  Van  Houten  married  Miss  Maggie  Davis,  who  was 
born  in  Hancock  county,  Ohio,  in  1868,  and  they  have  one  daughter, 
Esto  May,  now  attending  school.  T.  W.  Davis,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Van 
Houten,  is  also  a native  of  Ohio,  but  his  parents  came  from  Scotland. 
He  is  the  father  of  the  following  children,  all  living:  William,  Nettie, 

Maggie  and  Ella.  William  lives  in  South  Haven,  Michigan. 

As  a progressive  and  up-to-date  farmer,  Mr.  Van  Houten  has  identi- 
fied himself  with  the  Grange,  in  which  he  was  honored  with  the  office  of 
master,  a position  he  lias  filled  acceptably.  In  his  church,  the  Methodist 
Protestant,  he  has  long  been  prominent  and  active,  from  time  to  time 
serving  officially,  the  offices  of  class  leader,  trustee  and  steward  having 
been  filled  by  him. 

L.  A.  Conklin,  the  enterprising  and  progressive  editor  of  the 
Forest  Advertiser , is  also  an  able  business  man  in  other  lines,  and  has 
various  financial  interests.  Lie  has  been  editor  of  the  above  named 
paper  since  1907,  and  since  1899  has  been  engaged  in  real  estate  business. 
He  has  a farm  of  four  hundred  and  seventy-two  acres  in  Tennessee, 
besides  property  elsewhere.  Mr.  Conklin  was  born  in  Cass  county, 
Michigan,  July  29,  1865.  He  received  his  education  in  the  common 
schools  and  Forest  high  school,  graduating  from  this  instituiton  with 
the  class  of  1886.  Mr.  Conklin  then  spent  fifteen  years  successfully  in 
teaching  in  Hardin  and  Wyandot  counties,  five  year's  of  which  he  taught 
the  A.  Grammar  Department  of  Forest. 

Mr.  Conklin  has  been  a resident  of  Hardin  county  since  1876,  when 
he  came  with  his  parents.  His  father,  A.  G.  Conklin,  was  a native  of 
the  state  of  New  York,  and  his  wife,  Rachel  Conklin,  of  Champaign 
county,  Ohio.  He  was  a carpenter  and  first-class  mechanic,  and  first 
moved  to  Hardin  county  in  1865 ; he  remained  but  a short  time  and 
moved  away,  but  returned  in  1876  and  remained.  He  and  his  wife  were 
parents  of  but  one  child,  L.  A. 

Vol.  11—17 


702 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


L.  A.  Conklin  was  united  in  marriage,  in  1895,  with  Eva  M., 
daughter  of  J.  P.  Naus,  and  to  the  union  was  born  one  daughter,  May. 
Mr.  Conklin  has  been  successful  in  all  his  undertakings,  and  is  con- 
sidered one  of  the  public-spirited,  representative  citizens  of  Forest, 
where  he  has  a large  circle  of  friends. 

Adelbert  0.  Merriman. — Characterized  by  the  same  mental  vigor, 
business  aptitude,  and  progressive  spirit  that,  dominated  the  life  of  his 
father,  the  late  Lewis  Merriman,  Adelbert  G.  Merriman  has  attained  a 
position  of  note  among  the  valued  citizens  of  Kenton,  where  he  is  now 
actively  engaged  in  the  real  estate  and  loan  business.  He  was  born, 
October  17,  1862,  in  Marseilles,  Wyandot  county,  where  his  grandfather, 
Charles  Merriman,  was  a pioneer  settler. 

Born  in  Watertown,  New  York,  Charles  Merriman  emigrated  when  a 
young  man  to  Ohio,  settling  first  in  Crawford  county.  In  the  latter 
part,  of  1826  he  located  in  Marseilles,  which  was  then  in  Marion  county 
hut  in  1844  became  a part  of  Wyandot  county,  formed  from  parts  of 
Hardin,  Marion  and  Crawford  counties  and  from  a part  of  the  old  Indian 
reservation.  He  married  Susan  Carey,  a sister  of  William  Carey, 
formerly  a banker  in  Kenton,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  a large 
family  of  children,  of  whom  nine  grew  to  years  of  maturity,  as  follows: 
Lewis,  George,  Willis,  Enoch,  Mrs.  Rachel  Chesney,  Mrs.  Sarah  Powers, 
Mrs.  II.  C.  Brunson,  Belle  and  Mrs.  Mary  Lambert.  Of  these  children 
Mrs.  Brunson  is  the  only  survivor. 

Lewis  Merriman  was  born,  May  4,  1827,  in  Bucyrus,  Crawford  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  and  grew  to  manhood  in  Marseilles,  Wyandot  county,  where 
his  parents  settled  when  he  was  but  six  months  old.  Beginning  his 
career  as  a clerk  in  his  father’s  store,  he  became  familiar  with  the  details 
of  mercantile  pursuits,  and  on  April  1,  1850,  began  business  on  his  own 
account  as  a merchant  and  a dealer  in  land  and  stocks.  He  gradually 
enlarged  his  operations,  extending  them  outside  of  the  village  limits,  and 
in  1863  erected  in  Kenton,  on  the  west  side,  the  building  now  occupied 
as  a store  by  Mr.  Wendt.  On  the  first  of  April,  1864,  he  established 
himself  in  business  in  Kenton,  still  retaining  his  interests,  however,  in 
Marseilles  for  fifteen  years,  forming  a partnership  with  the  late  Anson 
Norton,  under  the  firm  name  of  Merriman  and  Norton,  and  opening  a 
general  store  on  the  west  side,  two  years  later  moving  to  what  is  now 
Kellogg’s  store.  In  1868  he  erected  the  building  now  occupied  by 
Nourse  & Caine,  and  the  firm  of  Merriman  & Norton  immediately 
assumed  its  possession.  In  September,  1875,  Mr.  Norton  retired  from 
the  firm  and  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Merriman ’s  son,  Charles  C.  Merriman. 
The  business  was  greatly  enlarged  and  extended,  being  merged  into  a 
wholesale  notion  and  gentlemen’s  furnishing  business,  and  was  in  a 
most  flourishing  condition  when  the  son  was  taken  ill  with  typhoid  fever, 
from  which  he  died  March  22,  1883.  A short  time  after  that  sad  event, 
Lewis  Merriman  closed  out  his  stock,  and  thenceforward  lived  practi- 
cally retired  from  business  pursuits  until  his  death,  November  23,  1905. 

Lewis  Merriman  was  for  many  years  easily  one  of  the  foremost 
citizens  of  Kenton,  and  one  of  the  leaders  in  promoting  its  highest  inter- 


1/ 


'•'>  *r-'- 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


703 


ests.  When  the  old  Thompson  Exchange  and  Deposit  Bank  was 
dissolved  he  with  others  in  1872  founded  the  Citizens’  Bank,  an  institu- 
tion which  he  bought  in  1874  and  conducted  successfully  until  it  passed 
into  the  Kenton  Savings  Bank.  The  Kenton  Savings  Bank  was  organized 
out  of  the  old  Cary  Bank  in  1876,  Mr.  Merriman  being  one  of  its  first 
directors.  When,  in  1877,  the  Citizens’  Bank  and  the  Kenton  Savings 
Bank  consolidated,  it  was  installed  in  its  present  quarters.  In  January 
1882,  Lewis  Merriman  was  elected  president  of  this  institution,  and 
served  in  that  capacity  the  remainder  of  liis  life.  He  was  also  officially 
connected  with  other  enterprises,  having  been  the  founder  of  the  Home 
Building  and  Loan  Association  and  was  a director  in  the  Kenton  Gas 
and  Electric  Company.  He  was  active  in  the  upbuilding  of  the  city, 
having  erected  four  of  the  five  blocks  in  the  business  section  of  the  city, 
while  during  his  life  time  he  had  owned  many  of  Kenton’s  most  import- 
ant business  rooms.  He  was  one  of  the  most  extensive  real  estate 
owners  of  this  part  of  Hardin  county,  and,  with  Andrew  Carnegie,  was 
the  founder  of  Kenton’s  Public  Library,  towards  the  establishment  of 
which  he  gave  the  munificent  sum  of  ten  thousand  dollars. 

Lewis  Merriman  married  Rebecca  Hooker,  of  Marseilles,  their 
marriage  being  solemnized  in  February,  1850.  She  died  October  4, 
1900.  Of  the  children  born  of  their  union  the  following  named  are 
living:  Luella,  widow  of  F.  C.  Dougherty,  an  attorney  in  Kenton; 
Clarabelle,  widow  of  D.  T.  Robey,  of  Kenton ; and  Adelbert  G.,  the 
subject  of  this  brief  sketch. 

But  two  years  of  age  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Kenton, 
Adelbert  G.  Merriman  received  his  elementary  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  this  place,  after  which  he  took  a course  of  study  at  Eastman’s 
Business  College  in  Poughkeepsie,  New  York.  About  1886  he  em- 
barked in  business  on  his  own  account,  forming  a partnership  with 
Ren  McConnell,  under  the  firm  name  of  McConnell  and  Merriman  and 
opening  a clothing  store.  At  the  end  of  three  years  he  bought  out  his 
partner  and  closed  ont  the  stock,  after  which  he  assisted  his  father  in 
selling  out  his  stock  of  notions  and  clothing.  Mr.  Merriman  subse- 
quently carried  on  business  with  his  father,  and  has  since  continued 
as  a dealer  in  real  estate  and  money  lender,  in  these  lines  of  industry 
and  in  the  settling  up  of  his  father’s  affairs  being  kept  busy. 

In  June  1889,  Mr.  Merriman  married  Lillian  Bowman,  who  passed 
to  the  higher  life  in  1897,  leaving  one  child,  Lewis.  Mr.  Merriman 
married  for  his  second  wife  in  July,  1899,  Maine  Bliss,  of  Ann  Arbor, 
Michigan,  and  they  have  one  son,  Richard  Bliss.  Mr.  Merriman  is  a 
steadfast  Republican  in  politics,  but  takes  no  active  part  in  local  affairs. 
Fraternally  he  is  a thirty-second  degree  Mason  and  a member  of  the 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and  he  is  a trustee  in  the 
First  Presbyterian  church.  He  is  a man  of  much  ability  and  sound 
judgment,  and  is  connected  with  various  enterprises,  being  a director 
in  the  Kenton  Gas  and  Electric  Company,  in  the  Kenton  Savings  Bank, 
in  the  Home  Building  and  Loan  Association,  and  is  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  Forest  Gas  and  Oil  Company,  of  Forest,  Hardin  county. 
He  built  the  A.  G.  Merriman  Block  in  1905,  a fine  office  building,  three 
stories  in  height  and  modern  in  all  its  appointments. 


704 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Charles  William  Smith  has  served  Hardin  county  in  many  public 
positions,  and  he  is  now  a member  of  its  board  of  commissioners.  He 
served  Mt.  Victory  as  a member  of  its  city  council,  and  was  during  one 
term  its  mayor,  resigning  that  office  in  1909  to  assume  his  duties  as  one 
of  the  commissioners  of  Hardin  county.  He  has  also  been  prominent  in 
the  business  life  of  his  city  and  county,  owning  a valuable  farm  which 
he  sublets  in  order  to  give  his  entire  attention  to  his  official  position, 
and  he  is  also  quite  extensively  engaged  in  the  buying  and  shipping  of 
timber. 

Mr.  Smith  was  born  in  Dudley  township  of  Hardin  county  on  the 
6th  of  March,  1862.  His  father,  Charles  Lorenzo  Smith,  was  born  in 
Baden,  Germany,  on  the  20th  of  May,  1834,  and  he  died  on  the  29th  of 
January,  1896,  at  Mt.  Victory.  Coming  from  the  Fatherland  to  the 
United  States  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  he  settled  on  a farm  near  Colum- 
bus, Ohio,  and  later  coming  from  there  to  Mt.  Victory  was  employed  in  a 
saw  mill  here  for  twelve  years.  He  then  bought  a farm  in  Dudley 
township,  which  remained  his  home  until  within  a short  time  of  his 
death,  afterward  living  with  his  son,  Charles  W.  Smith.  In  1859,  in 
Hardin  county,  he  was  married  to  Sarah  Ann  Manley,  and  she  died  on 
the  21st  of  September,  1888,  at  the  age  of  forty-six  years.  The  children 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith,  including  Charles,  are:  Thomas  L.,  a farmer  in 
Indiana;  Joseph,  a Hardin  county  farmer;  George,  employed  in  the  steel 
works  at  Marion ; Pearl,  also  at  the  Marion  steel  works ; Rosetta,  the  wife 
of  C.  Woods,  a retired  farmer  of  Dunkirk;  and  Margaret,  who  is  living 
at  Dunkirk. 

Charles  William  Smith  continued  his  studies  in  the  public  schools 
until  he  had  reached  his  seventeenth  year,  and  from  that  on  until  he  was 
twenty  he  farmed.  Taking  up  the  carpenter’s  trade  he  continued  that 
vocation  for  four  years,  and  from  that  on  for  twenty  years  he  was  in 
the  business  for  himself.  He  is  a charter  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  fraternity  at  Mt,  Victory,  is  a member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  and 
also  of  the  Elks  lodge  at  Kenton.  He  votes  with  the  Democratic  party. 

Mr.  Smith  married  on  the  26tli  of  November,  1881,  Flora  M.  Harvey, 
who  was  born  in  kit.  Victory  August  23,  1865,  a daughter  of  Newton 
and  Elizabeth  (Smith)  Harvey.  Newton  Harvey  was  born  in  Union 
county,  Ohio,  in  1842,  was  both  a shoemaker  and  farmer,  and  he  died  on 
the  7th  of  September,  1900.  Mrs.  Harvey  was  a daughter  of  Hiram 

and  Jane  (Wilkes)  Smith.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harvey, 

including  Mrs.  Smith,  are : Loal  and  Otie,  the  former  a farmer  in 

Hardin  county,  and  the  latter  the  wife  of  M.  Madory,  also  of  this 
county.  Three  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith ; Claude 
who  died  in  infancy,  Everett,  born  June  14,  1885,  and  Clarence,  born 
October  4,  1890.  Everett  Smith  married  Goldie  Dawson,  and  their 
two  children  are  Waldo  and  Dawson.  Mrs.  Charles  W.  Smith  is  a 
member  of  the  Rebekah  lodge  at  Mt.  Victory,  and  of  the  Pythian  Sisters 
at  the  same  place. 

Phil  M.  Crow. — A man  of  high  talent,  versatile  genius,  and  full  of 
vim  and  energy,  Phil  M.  Crow,  of  Kenton,  Ohio,  is  widely  known  as  a 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


705 


sound  and  able  attorney  and  counsellor  at  law,  having  the  confidence  of 
the  courts,  of  his  associates  at  the  bar,  and  of  an  extensive  clientage. 
He  is  also  prominent  and  active  in  fraternal,  political  and  financial 
circles,  and  in  fact,  in  any  project  or  organization  that  bears  the  ear- 
mark of  advancement  and  progress  for  his  fellow-men.  A son  of 
Ezram  B.  and  Isabella  (Hudson)  Crow,  he  was  born,  May  27,  1866,  in 
that  part  of  Ridgeway,  Ohio,  which  lies  in  Logan  county,  his  parents 
being  esteemed  and  honored  citizens.  He  was  married  May  10,  1893, 
to  Miss  Linna  A.  Fogle. 

Having  acquired  a thorough  knowledge  of  the  common  branches  of 
learning,  in  his  native  village,  he  began  his  professional  career  by  teach- 
ing in  the  rural  schools  for  several  terms,  and  while  thus  employed, 
commenced,  in  1882,  to  read  law.  Afterward,  Mr.  Crow  entered  the 
law  office  of  Johnson  and  Crane,  with  whom  lie  continued  as  a student 
about  two  years.  Becoming  proficient  in  his  studies,  he  was  admitted, 
March  7,  1889,  to  the  bar  of  the  supreme  court  of  Ohio,  and  on  April  12, 

1889,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  the  supreme  court  of  the  District  of 
Columbia. 

On  June  4,  1889,  having  completed  the  full  course  of  three  years  at 
the  Georgetown  University  School  of  Law,  Mr.  Crow  was  graduated  with 
the  degree  of  Master  of  Laws.  Beginning  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion in  Kenton,  he  formed  a partnership  with  Fred  M.  Childs,  and 
continued  as  junior  member  of  the  firm  of  Childs  and  Crow,  from  May  2, 

1890,  until  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Childs  from  active  practice.  He  was 
subsequently  in  partnership  with  William  W.  Durbin,  as  senior  member 
of  the  firm  of  Crow  and  Durbin,  from  January  16,  1892  until  May  19, 
1902,  since  which  date  he  has  practiced  alone,  being  now  one  of  the 
foremost  lawyers  of  Hardin  county. 

Mr.  Crow  was  appointed  city  solicitor  of  Kenton,  July  7,  1891,  was 
elected  to  that  office  in  1892,  and  re-elected  in  1894,  has  also  served  the 
city  as  a member  of  the  board  of  sinking  fund  trustees  and  tax  com- 
missioners. Continuously  during  the  past  fifteen  years,  Mr.  Crow  has 
been  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  Kenton  Public  Library.  He  is  of  a very 
sympathetic  temperament,  and  is  deeply  interested  in  the  suppression 
of  cruelty  to  animals. 

He  organized  the  Commercial  Bank,  of  Kenton,  and  the  Alger 
Savings  Bank,  Alger,  being  a director  in  both,  as  well  as  their  counsel. 

Politically,  he  is  an  ardent  and  active  Democrat,  and  was  a dele- 
gate from  the  Eighth  Congressional  District  of  Ohio,  to  the  convention  at 
Chicago,  which  nominated  William  J.  Bryan  for  president,  in  1896. 
Fraternally  Mr.  Crow  is  a member  of  all  the  Masonic  bodies  in  Kenton, 
is  a member  of  the  order  of  Odd  Fellows,  is  a past  exalted  ruler  of 
Kenton  Lodge  of  Elks,  and  belongs  to  the  Loyal  Legion,  Ohio 
Commandery. 

John  Anstine. — Widely  known  throughout  a large  part  of  the 
state  as  an  expert  road  builder,  John  Anstine  is  numbered  among  the 
respected  and  influential  citizens  of  Kenton,  which  has  been  his  home  for 
many  years.  A son  of  John  Anstine,  Sr.  he  was  born,  January  13,  1874, 


70G 


HISTORY  OP  IIARDIN  COUNTY 


at  Roundhead,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  of  German  ancestry.  His  grand- 
father, Henry  Anstine,  born,  it  is  thought,  in  Germany,  lived  for  awhile 
in  Pennsylvania,  later  becoming  a pioneer  settler  of  Champaign  county, 
Ohio.  He  subsequently  purchased  a flour  mill  on  the  Huntsville  pike, 
three  miles  from  Bellefontaine,  and  there  spent  his  last  years,  the  mill 
being  now  owned  and  operated  by  his  son  Charles. 

Born  in  Pennsylvania,  John  Anstine,  Sr.,  was  very  young  when  he 
was  brought  by  his  parents  to  Ohio,  and  hut  eight  years  of  age  when  his 
mother  died.  He  was  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  as  a young 
man  located  in  Hardin  county.  Marrying  a few  years  later,  he  took 
charge  of  the  farm  of  his  father-in-law,  at  Roundhead,  and  subsequently 
bought  the  estate,  and  there  continued  as  a tiller  of  the  soil  until  his 
death,  October  13,  1880,  at  the  age  of  thirty-seven  years,  ere  reaching 
manhood’s  prime. 

John  Anstine,  Sr.,  married,  in  1872,  at  Roundhead,  Hardin  county, 
Maggie  Pfeiffer,  who  was  born  in  Pleasant  township,  Hardin  county, 
October  7,  1846,  a daughter  of  John  Pfeiffer.  Her  grandfather,  Michael 
Pfeiffer,  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life  in  Germany,  coming  from 
there  when  well  advanced  in  years  to  Ohio,  and  spending  the  remainder 
of  his  life  with  his  children,  dying  at  the  home  of  a daughter,  in  Pleasant 
township.  He  reared  four  sons  and  two  daughters. 

John  Pfeiffer  was  born  and  reared  in  Germany.  Emigrating  to 
America  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years,  he  spent  six  years  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  then  went  back  to  the  Fatherland  to  visit  his  relatives  and  friends. 
Returning  to  this  country  in  1833,  he  came  directly  to  Ohio,  locating  in 
Pleasant  township,  Hardin  county.  This  section  of  the  country  was 
then  in  its  primeval  wildness,  game  of  all  kinds  being  very  plentiful,  and 
Kenton  was  a hamlet  of  log  cabins.  Purchasing  a tract  of  timber  two 
miles  east  of  Kenton,  he  built  a hewed  log  house  and  there  resided  until 
1851.  Coming  then  to  Kenton  he  bought  a flour  mill  on  West  Franklin 
street,  and  operated  it  successfully  until  1865,  when  he  traded  it  for  a 
farm  at  Roundhead.  Eight  years  later,  he  gave  up  farming  and  subse- 
quently lived  retired  from  active  pursuits  in  Kenton.  Pie  came  to  this 
country  a poor  boy,  but  he  was  industrious  and  persevering,  possessed 
good  judgment,  and  in  course  of  time  acquired  a competency  that  enabled 
him  to  spend  the  closing  years  of  his  life  in  ease  and  comfort,  his  death 
occurring  when  he  was  sixty-seven  years  of  age.  The  maiden  name  of 
the  wife  of  John  Pfeiffer  was  Eva  Elsasser.  She  was  born  in  Hesse 
Castle,  Germany,  and  preceded  her  parents  to  America.  She  survived 
him,  passing  away  at  the  venerable  age  of  eighty-one  years.  She  reared 
six  children.  John  Anstine,  Sr..,  and  his  wife  reared  two  children, 
namely:  John  and  Willis.  Mrs.  Anstine,  a widow  for  many  years, 

now  resides  in  Kenton.  She  is  a most  estimable  woman,  and  a con- 
scientious member  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

Educated  in  the  district  schools,  John  Anstine  was  reared  to  habits 
of  industry,  honesty  and  thrift.  Beginning  young  to  assist  on  the  farm, 
he  was  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  until  twenty-four  years  of  age. 
In  the  meantime  he  had  performed  his  full  share  of  the  work  required 
to  keep  the  public  highways  of  the  neighborhood  in  good  condition, 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


707 


and  had  carefully  studied  the  question  of  good  roads  and  their  benefit 
to  a community.  Leaving  the  farm  in  1897,  Mr.  Anstine  engaged  in 
the  work  of  road  building,  and  in  the  construction  of  substantal  high- 
ways has  gained  a wide  reputation,  having  been  thus  employed  in  a 
majority  of  the  counties  of  the  state.  In  1907  Mr.  Anstine  became  the 
junior  member  of  the  firm  of  D.  R.  McArthur  & Company,  thus  becoming 
a member  of  one  of  the  oldest  road  building  companies  in  the  state, 
Mr.  McArthur  having  been  thus  employed  for  thirty-five  years,  and 
being  well  known  throughout  the  state  as  an  expert  macadam  road 
builder. 

Mr.  Anstine  married,  in  1897,  Mary  Louise  McArthur,  who  was 
born  in  McDonald  township,  Hardin  county,  a daughter  of  D.  R.  and 
Elizabeth  (Clark)  McArthur.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Anstine  have  two  children, 
namely:  Daniel  McArthur  and  Margaret  Elizabeth.  Politically  Mr. 
Anstine  is  a Republican,  and  fraternally  he  is  a member  of  Pythian 
Lodge,  No.  101,  K.  of  P. ; and  of  Kenton  Lodge,  No.  157,  B.  P.  0.  E. 

Isaac  Robert  Draper. — Among  the  enterprising  men  who  have 
been  identified  from  early  youth  with  the  development  and  promotion 
of  the  agricultural  prosperity  of  Hardin  county  is  Isaac  Robert  Draper, 
now  living  retired  from  active  business  cares  in  Kenton.  A son  of 
Robert  Draper,  he  was  born,  February  20,  1852,  in  Pleasant  township, 
Hardin  county.  His  grandfather,  Isaac  Draper,  Jr.,  was  born  in 
Virginia,  where  his  father,  Isaac  Draper,  Sr.  was  a life-long  resident. 
The  great-great-grandfather  of  Mr.  Draper  was  also,  as  far  as  known, 
a life-long  resident  of  the  old  Dominion  State.  He  was  an  expert 
cabinet  maker,  and  one  of  the  beautiful  pieces  of  artistic  furniture 
which  he  manufactured,  a combination  bookcase  and  secretary,  made 
upward  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago,  has  been  handed  down  from 
generation  to  generation,  and  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Isaac  Robert 
Draper,  who  prizes  it  highly. 

Brought  up  in  Virginia,  Isaac  Draper,  Jr.,  followed  the  emigrant’s 
trail  westward  in  early  life,  becoming  a pioneer  settler  of  Coshocton 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  resided  several  years.  Coming  with  his  family 
to  Hardin  county  in  1834,  he  bought  timbered  land  on  the  Scioto  river, 
about  a mile  from  Kenton.  He  improved  quite  a tract  of  the  wild 
land,  and  carried  on  farming.  He  spent  the  closing  years  of  his  life 
in  Kenton,  dying  at  a venerable  age.  His  first  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Workman,  died  soon  after  their  removal  to  Hardin  county, 
leaving  four  children,  Sarah,  Nancy,  Robert  and  Perry.  He  married 
for  his  second  wife  Susan  Teeters,  and  they  had  one  child,  a daughter 
named  Susan,  and  a resident  of  Florida. 

Born  in  Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  Robert  Draper  was  a lad  of  seven 
years  when  he  came  with  his  family  to  Hardin  county.  This  section 
of  the  country  was  then  in  its  virgin  -wildness,  its  dense  growth  of 
timber  being  inhabited  by  the  dusky  savages  and  the  wild  beasts  of  the 
forest,  while  the  wild  turkeys  were  more  plentiful  than  the  barnyard 
fowls  now  are.  At  night  all  of  the  domestic  animals  had  to  be  kept 
in  an  enclosure.  For  many  years  there  were  no  railways  and  no 


708 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


convenient  markets,  the  people  living  chiefly  on  the  products  of  their 
land  and  the  fruits  of  the  chase.  After  his  marrigae  Robert  Draper 
settled  on  a tract  of  land  which  had  been  purchased  by  his  father  in 
Pleasant  township.  There,  in  the  midst  of  the  giant  trees,  he  reared 
the  humble  log  cabin  in  which  his  older  children  were  born.  Energetic 
and  industrious,  he  cleared  and  improved  a fine  homestead  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty-eight  acres,  after  a few  years  replacing  the  original 
log  cabin  with  a substantial  frame  residence,  and  erecting  good  farm 
buildings.  There  he  carried  on  general  farming  until  his  death,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-seven  years.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Mary 
Osborn,  was  born  in  Richland  county,  Ohio,  and  as  a child  was  brought 
by  her  parents,  Isaac  and  Margaret  Osborn,  to  Pleasant  township,  where 
they  were  early  settlers.  She  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-seven  years, 
after  becoming  the  mother  of  eight  children,  namely : Isaac  Robert, 
Emma,  McClellan,  Willis  E.,  Alice,  Cynthia,  Elva  and  Clara,  McClel- 
lan, Alice  and  Cynthia  died  in  young  man  and  womanhood,  before  their 
mother’s  death. 

Brought  up  on  the  home  farm,  Isaac  R,  Draper  was  educated  in  the 
district  schools,  and  while  yet  young  obtained  a practical  knowledge  of 
agriculture  under  his  father’s  wise  instructions.  Marrying  at  the  age 
of  twenty-two  years,  he  gained  his  first  experience  of  domestic  life  in 
a log  house  on  his  father’s  farm,  a part  of  which  he  rented.  A few 
years  later,  having  succeeded  in  his  undertakings,  he  bought  sixty  acres 
of  timbered  land  in  Blanchard  township,  and  having  erected  a log  house 
and  barn  began  clearing  the  land.  Eighteen  months  later  Mr.  Draper 
sold  at  an  advance  and  bought  an  eighty  acre  tract  in  the  same  township, 
thirty  acres  of  which  was  cleared.  He  lived  there  a year  and  a half, 
and  then  purchased  sixty  acres  of  the  parental  homestead.  Erecting 
a substantial  set  of  frame  buildings,  he  was  there  prosperously  engaged 
in  his  independent  calling  until  1887,  when  he  removed  to  Kenton, 
where  he  has  since  resided,  leasing  his  farm. 

Mr.  Draper  married,  in  1874,  Sarah  Belle  Carothers,  who  was  horn 
in  Pleasant  township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  a daughter  of  Samuel 
Henderson  Carothers.  Her  grandfather,  James  Carothers,  Jr.,  was 
born  in  Scotland,  near  Glasgow,  in  1770,  and  as  a young  child  was 
brought  to  America  by  his  parents,  James,  Sr.,  and  Mary  (Maloy) 
Carothers.  James  Carothers,  Sr.,  settled  with  his  family  on  a farm 
in  Huntingdon  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  there  spent  his  remaining 
years,  attaining  the  venerable  age  of  ninety-four  years.  He  was  a 
man  of  magnificent  physique,  broad  and  well  proportioned,  standing 
six  feet  four  inches  in  height.  Enlisting  in  the  Revolutionary  army, 
he  served  as  a soldier  five  and  one-half  years,  a part  of  the  time  as  one 
of  Washington’s  body  guard.  He  was  subsequently  a guardsman  on 
the  frontier  for  seven  years,  during  which  time  he  battled  with  and 
killed  several  Indians,  never  losing  an  opportunity  to  make  way  with  a 
redskin,  having  vowed  vengeance  on  the  savages  for  their  brutal  mas- 
sacre of  a brother  and  his  family.  James  Carothers,  Jr.,  was  a child 
when  he  came  to  America  and  eighteen  years  of  age  when  the  family 
settled  in  Huntingdon  county.  He  succeeded  to  the  occupation  in 


r 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


709 


which,  he  was  reared,  although  prior  to  his  marriage  he  was  for  awhile 
engaged  in  boating  on  the  Susquehanna  river.  He  subsequently  located 
on  a farm  near  Shirleysburg,  Huntingdon  county,  and  there  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  years.  He  served  during  the  war  of  1812  as  a soldier. 
The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Polly  Fitzsimmons.  She  was  born, 
in  1782,  in  Dublin,  Ireland,  and  was  brought  to  America  by  her  parents, 
Patrick  and  Nancy  Fitzsimmons,  about  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary 
war.  Samuel  Henderson  Carothers  was  born,  February  8,  1819,  on 
the  home  farm  in  Huntingdon  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  there  began 
life  for  himself  as  a teamster,  receiving  at  first  eleven  dollars  a month 
for  hauling  produce  between  Shirleysburg  and  Baltimore  and  other 
points,  driving  a six-horse  team.  When  he  had  saved  eighty-eight 
dollars  he  bought  a pair  of  horses  and  a wagon,  paying  for  the  whole 
outfit,  including  the  harnesses,  fifty  dollars.  With  this  outfit,  accom- 
panied by  his  wife,  he  started  for  the  western  frontier,  making  an 
overland  journey  to  Ohio,  arriving  in  Greene  county  with  sixteen  dollars 
and  fifty  cents  in  his  pockets.  Resuming  his  former  occupation,  he 
began  teaming  to  Cincinnati,  taking  produce  to  that  city  and  bringing- 
back  coal.  Prudent  and  economical,  he  accumulated  some  money,  and 
in  1846  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Pleasant  township,  Hardin 
county.  He  continued  teaming,  however,  four  years  longer,  and  then 
turned  his  attention  to  the  care  of  his  farm,  in  his  operations  being 
quite  successful.  He  married  first,  June  22,  1840,  Nancy  E.  Gilmore, 
who  was  born  in  Cumberland  county,  Maryland,  January  25,  1819. 
She  died  October  12,  1861,  leaving  four  children.  Mr.  Carothers  mar- 
ried on  Jnne  24,  1862,  Ann  E.  Woods,  who  was  born  in  Union  county, 
Pennsylvania,  June  7,  1829,  a daughter  of  Roland  and  Elizabeth  (Mus- 
ser)  Reece,  and  of  this  union  there  were  two  children. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Draper  have  one  son,  namely:  Clyde  Draper.  He 
was  educated  in  Kenton,  and  was  for  three  years  a telegraph  operator 
in  California,  but  is  now  a shoe  dealer  in  Kenton.  Socially  Mr.  Draper 
belongs  to  Amicitia  Lodge  No.  79,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  and  Mrs.  Draper  is  a 
members  of  the  Rebekahs  of  Kenton.  Religiously  both  are  valued  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

J.  C.  Miller,  the  pioneer  shoe  dealer  of  Kenton,  Ohio,  has  been 
identified  with  this  place  since  1858,  and  since  1876  has  had  his  son  as 
partner,  their  business  being  conducted  under  the  firm  name  of  J.  C. 
Miller  and  Son. 

The  Millers  are  of  English  descent  and  several  generations  of  the 
family  were  born  on  Long  Island,  New  York.  J.  C.  Miller  was  born 
there  July  27,  1830,  a son  of  Enoch  and  Amy  (Conklin)  Miller,  both 
natives  of  Long  Island.  Mrs.  Miller  also  traced  her  ancestry  to  Eng- 
land. In  their  family  were  seven  sons  and  one  daughter,  and  of  this 
number  six  are  now  living,  J.  C.  being  the  second  in  order  of  birth. 
The  father  died  in  New  York  state  at  the  age  of  seventy  years ; the 
mother  at  thirty-five. 

At  the  age  of  fifteen  years  J.  C.  Miller,  having  finished  his  studies 
in  the  common  schools,  went  into  his  father’s  shop  and  entered  upon 


710 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


an  apprenticeship  to  the  shoemaker’s  trade.  This  term  of  apprentice- 
ship lasted  until  he  was  twenty-one,  and  he  continued  to  work  for  his 
father  seven  years  longer.  Then,  in  1858  he  came  west  to  Kenton, 
Ohio,  and  established  himself  in  business  here,  at  first  supplying  his 
his  trade  with  the  work  of  his  own  hands.  And  here  he  has  continued 
for  more  than  half  a century,  he  having  celebrated  in  1908  the  fiftieth 
anniversary  of  his  business  in  Kenton. 

In  1852,  on  Long  Island,  he  married  Miss  Caroline  Raynor,  who 
was  born  there  in  1832,  daughter  of  Norton  Raynor.  She  died  at  Ken- 
ton, May  16,  1909.  To  them  were  born  two  children,  a son  and 
daughter.  The  former,  Henry  J.,  born  on  Long  Island,  April  14,  1855, 
was  three  years  old  at  the  time  the  family  came  to  Ohio ; the  daughter, 
Emma  W.,  was  born  in  Kenton,  November  9,  1862.  She  was  married 
October  14,  1885,  to  Ralph  W.  Rarey,  a farmer  of  Hardin  county,  and 
they  have  three  children,  Frank,  Amy  and  John. 

Henry  J.  Miller  received  his  education  in  the  Kenton  high  school, 
and,  following  in  the  footsteps  of  his  forefathers,  he  settled  down  to 
the  trade  of  shoemaker,  which  he  learned  in  his  father’s  shop.  In 
April,  1876,  on  reaching  his  majority,  he  became  his  father’s  partner 
and  has  since  been  in  business  with  him.  He  married,  October  13, 
1880.  Miss  Emma  C.  Norton.  A native  of  Ohio  state  and  a sister  of 
W.  A.  Norton.  They  have  two  sons,  William  Norton  and  Raynor,  the 
former  born  July  28,  1881,  the  latter,  September  13,  1894.  William 
Norton  Miller  married,  November  20,  1907,  Miss  Marie  Andrews. 

Both  J.  C.  and  Henry  J.  Miller  are  stockholders  in  the  Kenton 
Savings  Bank  and  in  the  Kenton  Telephone  Company,  Henry  J.  being 
a director  in  the  latter  organization.  J.  C.  Miller  is  the  only  one  of 
the  original  stockholders  of  the  Savings  Bank  now  living.  Religiously 
he  is  a Presbyterian.  He  joined  the  church  in  1850,  and  for  over  fifty 
years  has  been  one  of  its  elders.  His  son  is  a member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church. 

Alvin  L.  Zuck. — An  industrious  and  well-to-do  agriculturist  of  Har- 
din county,  Alvin  L.  Zuck,  of  Buck  township,  owns  and  occupies  a farm 
which  in  regard  to  its  appointments  and  equipments  compares  most 
favorably  with  any  in  the  locality,  manifesting  in  its  neat  and  orderly 
appearance  the  thrift,  care  and  good  management  of  the  proprietor. 
A son  of  Joseph  Zuck,  he  was  born,  March  17,  1846,  in  Caledonia,  Marion 
county,  Ohio.  John  Zuck,  his  paternal  grandfather,  was,  it  is  thought, 
born  in  Pennsylvania,  of  Dutch  ancestry.  Coming  in  pioneer  days  to 
Ohio,  he  lived  for  awhile  on  a farm  in  Ross  county.  Removing  from  there 
to  Marion  county,  he  bought  raw  prairie  land  in  Marion  township,  and 
there  devoted  his  time  to  clearing  and  improving  a comfortable  home- 
stead, residing  there  until  his  death,  January  1,  1861,  at  the  venerable 
age  of  four  score  and  ten  years.  He  was  buried  in  a cemetery  which  was 
laid  out  on  his  farm  and  given  by  him  to  the  county.  His  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Anna  Van  Guntine,  survived  him,  passing  away  at 
the  age  of  eighty  years  or  more.  They  reared  nine  children,  including: 
Abraham,  Daniel,  John,  David,  Joseph,  Nancy,  Fanny  and  Tena. 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


711 


Born  in  1811  in  Ross  county,  Ohio,  Joseph  Zuc-k  was  there  brought 
up  and  educated,  going  as  a young  man  to  Marion  county.  Although 
brought  up  on  a farm,  he  began  life  as  merchant,  having  a general  store 
in  Caledonia.  Selling  out  in  1848,  he  turned  his  attention  to  agricul- 
tural pursuits,  buying  his  father’s  homestead  property.  A few  acres 
had  been  cleared  and  a log  cabin  and  a log  stable  had  been  erected. 
He  set  to  work  with  a will  to  clear  the  remainder  of  the  land,  in  the 
course  of  a few  years  having  a well  cultivated  and  productive  farm. 
About  the  time  of  the  Civil  war,  he  erected  a frame  house,  and  later 
put  up  a substantial  frame  barn.  In  1876  he  sold  that  property  and 
a year  later  bought  land  on  Taylor  Creek  pike,  Buck  township,  Hardin 
county,  and  was  here  prosperously  employed  in  tilling  the  soil  until 
his  death,  January  9,  1889.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Mary 
Ann  Kniesley.  She  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  a daughter  of  Abraham 
Kniesley,  who  came  from  there  to  Ohio  in  early  days,  locating  first  in 
Marion  county,  from  there  moving  to  Richfield,  Crawford  county,  where 
he  improved  a farm,  on  which  he  spent  his  remaining  years.  Four 
children  were  born  of  their  union,  namely : Alfred,  who  died  when 
eighteen  months  old ; Amanda  and  Melinda,  twins ; and  Alvin  L. 

Growing  to  manhood  in  Marion  township,  Alvin  L.  Zuek  was  early 
initiated  into  the  various  duties  and  labors  that  fall  upon  a farmer’s 
son,  his  help  when  out  of  school  being  needed  by  his  father.  After  the 
death  of  both  of  his  parents  he  succeeded  to  the  ownership  of  the  home 
farm,  on  which  he  toiled  so  faithfully,  and  continued  its  management 
until  1893.  Selling  the  old  homestead  in  that  year  to  the  Toledo  and 
and  Ohio  Central  Railroad  Company  he  bought  a farm  of  one  hundred 
and  fifteen  acres  on  the  Bellefontaine  pike,  but  continued  to  reside  on 
the  place  which  he  had  sold.  In  1894  Mr.  Zuc-k  bought  the  farm  which 
he  now  owns  and  occupies.  It  is  located  on  Bellefontaine  pike,  in  Buck 
township,  and  contains  two  hundred  and  five  acres  of  choice  land,  and 
has  improvements  of  value,  including  a substantial  and  convenient  set 
of  farm  buildings.  Here  he  is  carrying  on  his  chosen  calling  with  well 
deserved  success. 

Mr.  Zuek  married,  January  28,  1871,  Isabelle  Hill.  She  was  born  in 
Scott  township,  Marion  county,  Ohio,  January  17,  1844.  Her  father, 
Samuel  Hill,  was  born  in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  where  his  father  settled 
as  a pioneer  on  coming  from  Ireland,  his  native  land,  to  this  country. 
Samuel  Hill,  who  was  of  Scotch  ancestry  on  his  father’s  side  of  the 
house,  was  reared  on  the  home  farm  in  Knox  county,  and  when  ready 
to  begin  life  for  himself  bought  land  in  Scott  township,  and  on  the  farm 
that  he  improved  resided  until  his  death.  He  married  Ann  Jane  Mitchell, 
who  was  born  in  Belfast,  Ireland,  and  came  with  her  parents  in  a sail- 
ing vessecl  to  Ohio,  where,  in  Crawford  county,  they  subsequently  spent 
their  remaining  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Zuc-k  have  one  child,  Acldie  L., 
who  was  born  December  31,  1872,  in  Marion  county.  She  married  Paul 
K.  Sieg,  and  they  have  two  children,  Mary  Isabelle  and  Edwin  Lewis. 
Religiously  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Zuek  are  in  sympathy  with  the  teachings  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


712 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


H.  N.  Bradley. — One  of  the  prominent  early  families  of  Hardin 
county  were  the  Bradleys,  William  and  Anna  (Baker))  Bradley,  who 
established  their  home  within  its  borders  in  the  spring  of  1857,  making 
their  journey  hither  with  team  and  wagon  and  they  settled  on  a farm  in 
Lynn  Valley,  Lynn  township.  Their  first  purchase  of  land  there  was 
ninety-seven  acres,  mostly  covered  with  timber,  the  only  improvements 
consisting  of  a log  house,  an  orchard  of  two  acres  and  twenty  acres 
of  cleared  ground.  There  these  Hardin  county  pioneers  lived  and 
labored  until  their  death,  the  husband  dying  on  New  Year’s  day,  1862, 
and  the  wife  in  the  year  of  1895. 

H.  N.  Bradley,  their  son,  was  born  in  Madison  county,  Ohio,  in 
1850,  seven  years  before  the  family  emigrated  to  Hardin  county,  and 
he  afterward  lived  on  the  homestead  here  until  twenty  years  of  age. 
Following  this  he  was  absent  for  a short  time,  and  then  returning  to 
the  old  home  place  he  bought  the  interests  of  the  other  heirs  and  became 
its  sole  owner.  In  time  he  succeeded  in  clearing  the  land  of  its  timber, 
erected  good  buildings,  including  a home,  and  continued  its  cultiva- 
tion until  in  the  fall  of  1904  he  moved  to  Kenton  and  to  the  residence 
he  had  purchased  on  North  Detroit  street,  where  he  yet  resides,  although 
he  still  continues  to  oversee  the  work  of  his  farm.  He  has  added  eighty 
acres  to  the  original  homestead,  making  an  estate  of  one  hundred  and 
seventy-seven  acres,  all  of  which  is  under  cultivation  with  the  exception 
of  about  eighteen  acres  of  timber  land.  The  farm  contains  two  good 
residences  and  two  orchards,  and  is  one  of  the  valuable  estates  of  the 
township.  In  addition  to  his  home  place  in  Kenton  Mr.  Bradley  also 
owns  residence  property  on  West  Columbus  street.  lie  has  served  one 
term  as  a township  trustee. 

In  1879  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  R.  Kinnear,  a daughter  of 
Frank  and  Mary  Jane  (Carruthers)  Kinnear,  natives  of  Ohio,  and  there 
were  two  children  of  this  union.  Mrs.  Bradley  died  in  February  of 
1883,  and  in  1884  Mr.  Bradley  wedded  Mary  Margaret,  a daughter  of 
John  and  Catherine  (Fults)  Flynn,  the  former  from  West  Virginia 
and  the  latter  from  Hardin  county,  Ohio.  Of  the  three  children  of  this 
second  union  two  are  living.  Mr.  Bradley  votes  with  the  Republican 
party,  and  he  is  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

James  H.  Ray,  an  energetic,  enterprising  business  man,  is  identified 
with  the  mercantile  interests  of  Hardin  county  as  a provision  dealer 
at  Kenton,  having  a large  and  profitable  trade.  A son  of  John  Ray, 
he  was  born,  September  25,  1850,  in  Harrison  county,  Ohio,  of  Scotch  an- 
cestry. His  grandfather,  Jonathan  Ray,  was  born  it  is  thought  in 
Scotland,  and  after  coming  to  the  United  States  settled  first  in  Maryland. 
From  there  he  moved  to  this  state,  and  a few  years  later  located  as  a 
pioneer  in  Adams  county,  Indiana,  where  he  cleared  a farm  and  resided 
until  his  death,  at  the  venerable  age  of  eighty-three  years.  Born  in 
Maryland,  John  Ray  came  when  a young  man  to  Ohio,  and  lived  for 
a while  in  Jefferson  county.  Migrating  then  to  Harrison  county,  he 
was  for  ten  years  there  employed  in  a mill.  In  1851,  accompained  by 
his  family,  he  journeyed  by  team  to  Adams  county,  Indiana.  Purchas- 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


713 


ing  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  wild  land  about  eight  miles  south 
of  Decatur,  he  built  a hewed  log  house  in  the  opening  that  he  made  and 
began  the  improvement  of  a homestead.  When  he  had  cleared  a large 
part  of  his  original  purchase  he  bought  eighty  acres  of  near-by  land. 
Placing  a large  part  of  this  under  cultivation,  he  sold  out  at  an  advance, 
and  invested  in  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  which  he  immediately  began 
to  clear.  The  country  roundabout  him  was  in  its  primeval  condition 
when  he  settled  in  Adams  county,  deer,  wolves  and  wild  turkeys  being 
plentiful,  while  Fort  Wayne,  thirty-five  miles  away,  was  the  nearest 
market.  He  used  to  team  all  of  his  surplus  products  to  that  point, 
starting  as  early  as  three  o’clock  in  the  morning,  taking  provisions  with 
him,  and  camping  in  a feed  yard  located  in  what  is  now  the  business 
center  of  that  city.  Industrious  and  practical,  he  accumlated  a compet- 
ency, and  spent  his  last  years  retired  in  Monroe,  Indiana,  passing  away 
at  the  age  of  seventy-eight-  years.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Mercy  Smith,  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Ohio,  and  died  at  the 
age  of  sixty-five  years. 

One  of  a family  of  nine  children,  James  H.  Ray  obtained  his 
first  knowledge  of  books  in  the  pioneer  schools  of  Adams  county,  Indiana, 
in  the  log  cabin  of  pioneer  days,  when  the  seats  were  simply  slabs  with 
wooden  pegs  inserted  for  legs,  and  a board  placed  along  one  side  of 
the  cabin  furnished  the  pupils  a place  on  which  to  write.  He  assisted 
on  the  farm,  remaining  with  his  parents  until  attaining  his  majority.  Be- 
ginning then  his  career  as  a independent  farmer,  he  rented  land  for 
four  years,  and  then  bought  a tract  of  timbered  land,  on  which  he  built 
a log  house,  the  first  home  which  he  ever  owned.  After  clearing  about 
twenty  acres  he  sold  at  an  advantage  and  rented  his  father-in-law’s 
farm,  which  he  managed  successfully  a number  of  years.  In  1882  Mr. 
Ray  in  company  with  his  brother-in-law  bought  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
seven  acres  of  land  lying  ten  miles  west  of  Kenton,  in  McDonald  town- 
ship. The  following  year  the  land  was  divided,  and  Mr.  Ray  lived  for 
four  years  on  his  share  of  the  estate.  Going  then  to  Van  Wert  county, 
he  embarked  in  mercantile  pursuits,  continuing  there  for  a while.  Sell- 
ing out,  he  was  similiarly  employed  at  Jumbo,  Hardin  county,  for  seven 
years,  after  which  he  was  engaged  in  general  farming,  owning  a farm  of 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  situated  three  miles  east  of  Kenton.  Since 
1905  Mr.  Ray  has  been  prosperously  engaged  in  the  provision  business 
at  Kenton,  his  sons  being  associated  with  him. 

In  1872  Mr.  Ray  married  Martha  H.  Gilpin,  who  was  born  in  Adams 
county,  Indiana,  a daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Martha  Gilpin.  Seven 
children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ray,  namely : Leonidas,  who 
married  Miss  Desbaugh;  Leona  A.,  Catherine;  Otto;  May;  Homer  and 
Edgar.  Politically  Mr.  Ray  is  a Republican  and  also  a stanch  supporter 
of  the  principles  of  the  Prohibition  party.  Religiously  both  he  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Eugene  Rogers. — No  more  worthy  representative  of  the  native  born 
citizens  of  Kenton  is  entitled  to  memtion  in  a work  of  this  character 
than  Eugene  Rogers,  a well  known  druggist,  whose  father,  Dr.  John 


714 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


A.  Rogers,  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  this  part  of  Hardin  county 
and  a pioneer  physician  and  druggist. 

The  Rev.  John  Rogers,  grandfather  of  Eugene,  was  born  in  Freder- 
ick county,  Virginia,  and  there  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits.  Prom 
childhood  he  showed  a strong  tendency  to  religious  thought  and  feel- 
ing, and  early  in  life  was  converted,  and  from  that  time  was  a local 
preacher  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Emigrating  to  Ohio,  he 
became  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Greene  county.  He  subsequently  moved 
to  Champaign  county,  locating  near  Mechanicsburg,  where  he  spent  his 
remaining  days,  passing  away  in  1848.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Margaret  Herbert,  was  born  and  bred  in  Loudoun  county,  Virginia. 

Dr.  John  A.  Rogers  was  born  in  February,  1820,  in  Greene  county, 
Ohio,  and  as  a boy,  being  a diligent  pupil,  made  the  best  of  his  oppor- 
tunity to  acquire  an  education  in  the  pioneer  schools  of  his  times.  He 
afterwards  turned  his  attention  to  the  study  of  medicine,  in  1842  attend- 
ing lectures  at  the  Ohio  Medical  Institute  in  Cincinnati.  In  May,  1843, 
Dr.  Rogers,  with  all  of  his  earthly  effects  packed  in  his  saddle-bags, 
started  on  horseback  for  Kenton.  Hardin  county  was  then  a compar- 
ative wilderness,  the  few  scattering  settlers  living  in  log  cabins.  Other 
settlers,  however,  were  constantly  making  their  appearance,  and  the 
location  seeming  favorable  he  concluded  to  take  up  his  residence  here 
and  start  in  business.  Forming  a partnership,  in  1845,  with  Dr.  J. 
F.  Ankeny,  these  enterprising  physicians  purchased  a stock  of  drugs 
and  opened  the  first  drug  store  in  Kenton,  it  being  located  in  a small 
frame  building  on  the  east  side  of  the  square.  The  drugs,  which  were 
bought  in  New  York,  came  via  river,  canal  and  lake  to  Sandusky,  thence 
by  rail  to  Republic,  Seneca  county,  the  nearest  railroad  station,  from 
there  being  brought  by  team  to  this  place.  At  the  end  of  four  years 
the  partnership  was  dissolved  and  the  goods  sold  to  George  Sweeney, 
who  in  turn  sold  out  to  Charles  Ashton.  In  1856  Dr.  Rogers  bought  a 
half  interest  in  the  business,  and  a short  time  later  bought  out  Mr. 
Ashton’s  entire  interest,  becoming  sole  proprietor  of  the  establishment. 
Retiring  then  from  the  active  practice  of  medicine,  the  Doctor  devoted 
his  whole  time  to  the  drug  business,  which  is  now  carried  on  by  his 
son,  Eugene  Rogers.  He  passed  away  in  1909,  in  the  ninetieth  year 
of  his  age.  He  was  a member  of  Latham  Lodge  No.  154,  F.  & A.  M., 
and  served  a number  of  years  as  a member  of  the  Board  of  Education. 

Dr.  Rogers  was  twice  married.  He  married  first,  in  1843,  Clarissa 
Knight,  of  Miami  county,  Ohio.  She  died  in  1848,  leaving  two  children, 
namely : Engene,  the  subject  of  this  brief  sketch ; and  Kate,  wife  of 
Thomas  Cantwell.  The  Doctor  married  for  his  second  wife  Ann  Eliza- 
beth King,  who  survives  him.  Three  daughters  were  born  of  this  union, 
namely : Mary.  Margaret  and  Clara. 

After  completing  the  course  of  study  in  the  city  schools,  Eugene 
Rogers  began  assisting  his  father  in  the  drug  store,  at  an  early  age  mas- 
tering the  science  of  pharmacy.  On  May  10,  1864,  he  enlisted  in  the  One 
Hundred  and  Thirty-fifth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  went  with  his  regi- 
ment to  Virginia,  and  was  soon  appointed  assistant  hospital  steward, 
a positon  that  he  retained  until  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  enlistment, 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


715 


when  he  was  honorably  discharged  from  the  service.  Soon  after  his 
return  home  lie  became  associated  with  his  father  in  the  drug  business, 
to  which  he  subsequently  succeeded,  and  is  now  carrying  on  an  extensive 
and  lucrative  trade,  being  one  of  the  leading  druggists  in  this  part  of 
the  county. 

Mr.  Rogers  married,  in  1903,  Mozelle  Walker,  who  was  born  in 
Dayton,  Ohio,  a daughter  of  General  Moses  and  Mary  L.  Walker.  Fra- 
ternally Mr.  Rogers  belongs  to  Latham  Lodge,  No.  154,  F.  & A.  M.,  to 
Lima  Chapter,  R.  & S.  M. ; and  to  Cantwell  Post,  No.  97,  G.  A.  R. 

W.  Delano  Combs,  a popular  and  highly  esteemed  resident  of  Ken- 
ton, is  one  of  the  leading  representatives  of  the  dental  profession  of  that 
part  of  Hardin  county.  No  professional  calling  it  is  safe  to  say  so 
aptly  illustrates  the  swift  advance  of  science  in  this  age  as  that  of  den- 
tistry, which,  until  a comparatively  recent  date,  had  scarce  been  elevated 
to  a distinct  and  separate  science,  but  was  left  largely  in  the  hands  of 
those  unskilled  in  this  particular  branch  of  surgery.  Dr.  Combs  was 
born,  November  6,  1879,  in  Guernsey  county,  Ohio,  which  was  likewise 
the  birthplace  of  his  father,  James  Combs.  William  Combs,  the 
Doctor’s  grandfather,  was  a native  of  Union  county,  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  was  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits.  A pioneer  settler  of 
Guernsey  county,  Ohio,  he  cleared  and  improved  a farm  from  the  raw 
land,  and  there  followed  farming  many  years,  but  is  now  living  retired 
from  active  business  in  Cambridge,  the  county-seat.  The  maiden  name 
of  his  wife  was  Delilah  Kimball.  The  son  of  a farmer,  James  Combs 
continued  to  follow  the  free  and  independent  occupation  of  his  youth  for 
many  seasons.  Retiring  then  from  farming  he  is  now,  in  company  with 
his  son  John  M.  carrying  on  a substantial  drug  business  in  Bvesville, 
Guernsey  county,  having  a large  and  remunerative  patronage.  He  mar- 
ried Allie  McCullev,  who  was  born  in  Guernsey  county,  a.  daughter  of 
William  and  Sarah  McCulley,  and  they  reared  five  children,  namely : W. 
Delano,  Harry,  John  Kate  and  Pearl. 

After  leaving  the  district  school,  W.  Delano  Combs  completed  the 
course  of  study  at  the  Kirkersville  High  School,  and  was  subsequently 
graduated  from  the  Antrim  Normal  School.  Turning  his  attention  then 
to  the  study  of  dentistry  he  became  proficient  in  his  knowledge  of  the 
science  and  in  1902,  successfully  passed  the  examination  of  the  State 
Board  in  Columbus.  Dr.  Combs  immediately  commenced  the  practice 
of  his  profession  in  Kenton,  and  has  met  with  eminent  success  as  a 
dentist. 

In  September,  1905,  Dr.  Combs  married  Iva  N.  Rice,  who  was  born 
near  Kenton,  a daughter  of  A.  M.  and  Nancy  (Derr)  Rice,  and  they 
have  one  child,  Dorothy  Combs.  The  Doctor  is  a member  of  the  State 
Dental  Association,  and  is  prominent  in  fraternal  circles,  belonging  to 
Latham  Lodge,  No.  154,  A.  F.  & A.  M. ; to  Scioto  Chapter,  No.  119,  R. 
A.  M. ; to  Kenton  Council,  No.  65.  R.  & S.  M. ; to  Kenton  Commandery, 
No.  58,  K.  T. ; to  Scioto  Camp,  No.  11206,  M.  W.  A. ; to  Kenton  Lodge, 
No.  157,  B.  P.  0.  E. ; and  to  Pythian  Lodge,  No.  101,  K.  of  P. 


716 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


John  H.  Strong  a progressive  and  prosperous  agriculturist  of 
Kenton,  is  distinguished  not  only  for  his  personal  worth,  but  for  the 
substantial  and  honored  ancestry  from  which  he  is  descended.  A 
native  of  Kenton,  he  has  here  spent  his  years  busily  employed  in  the 
independent  occupation  upon  which  the  wealth  and  prosperity  of  our 
great  nation  so  largely  depends.  His  father,  the  late  Hon.  Luther 
Martin  Strong,  noted  as  a soldier,  statesman  and  learned  jurist,  was  born 
on  a farm  near  Tiffin,  Seneca  county,  Ohio,  June  23,  1838.  He  was  a 
son  of  Jesse  Strong  and  a grandson  of  Louis  and  Mary  (Hill)  Strong, 
of  Maryland.  A native  of  Maryland,  Jesse  Strong  was  born,  February 
12,  1801,  near  Frederick.  At  the  age  of  thirteen  years  he  came  with 
an  older  brother  to  Knox  county,  this  state.  Ohio  was  then  a vast 
wilderness,  from  which  the  wild  beasts  of  the  forest  had  not  yet  fled, 
but,  with  the  dusky  savage,  were  everywhere  in  evidence.  Returning 
to  his  native  state  in  1827,  he  remained  there  three  years,  in  the  mean- 
time taking  unto  himself  a wife.  In  1830  he  came  back  to  Ohio  and 
settled  with  his  bride  in  Seneca  county.  Buying  a tract  of  wild  land  near 
Tiffin,  he  cleared  and  improved  a good  farm,  upon  which  he  resided 
until  his  death,  March  19,  1876.  He  married  a Maryland  girl,  Sarah 
A.  Myers,  who  died  on  the  home  farm  near  Tiffin  in  November,  1868. 
Fourteen  children  were  born  of  their  union,  and  eleven  of  them  grew  to 
mature  life,  as  follows:  Margaret;  Mary;  Thomas  and  William,  twins; 
Barbara;  Luther;  John;  Wesley;  Ira  and  Irena,  twins;  and  Alva. 

Luther  Martin  Strong  received  his  elementary  education  in  the 
pioneer  schools  of  Seneca  county,  which  he  attended  usually  in  the 
winter  seasons  only,  his  assistance  being  needed  on  the  farm  during 
seed  time  and  harvest.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  began  teaching  the 
winter  terms  of  school,  the  remainder  of  the  year  attending  the  academy 
at  Republic.  Upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war  he  left  the 
academy  to  raise  Company  G,  of  the  Forty-ninth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infan- 
try, of  which  he  was  made  captain.  Going  south,  his  regiment,  with 
about  fifteen  hundred  other  troops,  became  the  nucleus  of  the  Ciimber- 
lancl  Army.  Captain  Strong  remained  at  the  front  with  his  command 
during  the  trying  scenes  that  soon  followed,  participating  in  its  many 
engagements,  among  which  were  the  battles  at  Shiloh,  Lawrenceburg, 
Liberty  Gap,  Chiekamauga,  Chattanooga  and  Missionary  Ridge.  At 
the  battle  of  Chiekamauga  his  regiment  was  on  the  left  with  General 
Thomas,  and  during  a part  of  the  engagement  the  command  of  its  men 
fell  upon  Captain  Strong,  and  he  received  special  mention  for  coolness 
and  bravery  from  both  his  brigade  and  division  commanders.  After 
the  battle  of  Missionary  Ridge,  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major, 
and  in  that  capacity  took  part  in  the  various  engagements  of  the 
Atlanta  campaign,  including  those  at  Buzzard  Roost,  Resaca,  Pickett’s 
Mill,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Atlanta,  and  Jonesboro.  Soon  after  the  latter 
engagement,  Major  Strong  became  the  senior  officer  of  the  regiment, 
and  was  commissioned  lieutenant  colonel.  He  subsequently  commanded 
the  regiment  in  pursuit  of  Hood,  and  in  the  battles  of  Columbia,  Frank- 
lin and  Nashville.  In  the  charge  at  Pickett’s  Mill  he  was  wounded  in  the 
shoulder,  but  did  not  relinquish  his  command.  In  the  battle  that 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


717 


occurred  May  27,  1864,  one  of  the  hardest  fought  of  that  campaign, 
one  half  of  the  members  of  the  Forty-ninth  regiment  were  killed  or 
wounded,  while  fifteen  hundred  of  the  division  were  either  killed  or 
wounded.  In  the  battle  of  Nashville,  December  17,  1864,  Colonel  Strong 
was  wounded  by  a minie  ball  in  the  left  arm.  At  the  close  of  the  war, 
Colonel  Strong  began  the  study  of  law,  and  on  January  3,  1867,  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  by  the  supreme  court  of  Ohio.  He  immediately 
began  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Kenton,  where  he  met  with 
eminent  success,  winning  a large  clientage.  He  became  very  prominent 
in  public  affairs,  and  served  with  distinction  in  various  official  capac- 
ities. In  1879  he  was  elected  to  the  state  senate,  and  was  re-elected  in 

1881.  In  1883  he  was  made  judge  of  the  court  of  common  pleas.  In 
1892  he  represented  the  Eighth  Ohio  district  in  congress,  and  in  1894 
was  re-elected  to  the  same  position.  He  died  on  the  26th  of  April, 
1903,  honored  and  respected  throughout  the  county  and  state. 

Hon.  Luther  M.  Strong  married,  February  13.  1865,  Mary  Milliman, 
who  was  born  in  Tompkins  county,  New  York,  December  26,  1837,  a 
daughter  of  Hiram  Milliman.  and  grand-daughter  of  Joseph  Milliman, 
a life-long  resident  of  New  York.  Hiram  Milliman  was  born  in  eastern 
New  York,  and  after  attaining  manhood  bought  a tract  of  wild  land 
in  Tompkins  county.  Building  a cabin  of  round  logs,  he  and  his  bride 
there  began  housekeeping,  living  in  it  until  after  the  birth  of  their 
children.  He  cleared  a large  part  of  the  land,  set  out  fruit  trees,  and 
in  course  of  time  erected  a substantial  set  of  frame  buildings.  Selling 
out  in  1853,  he  came  with  his  family  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Seneca  county, 
where  he  bought  land,  and  began  the  improvement  of  a farm.  His 
career,  however,  was  cut  short  by  the  grim  harvester,  death,  in  the 
following  year,  1854,  when  he  was  but  fifty-three  years  of  age.  Hiram 
Milliman  married  Sally  Dyer,  who  was  born  at  White  Creek,  New  York, 
a daughter  of  Amherst  Dyer.  She  was  a descendant  in  the  seventh 
generation  from  William  and  Mary  (Suffield)  Dyer,  who  emigrated  to 
the  United  States  in  1660,  settling  in  Maryland.  The  line  continued 
through  Samuel  and  Ann  (Hutchinson)  Dyer;  Edward  and  Mary 
(Greene)  Dyer;  Samuel  and  Tabitha  (Niles)  Dyer;  Edward  and  Eliza- 
beth (Fish)  Dyer;  Amherst  Dyer;  and  Sally  Dyer.  Mary  Greene,  who 
married  Edward  Dyer,  the  third  in  line  of  descent  from  William  Dyer, 
the  emigrant,  was  a daughter  of  William  and  Mary  (Sayles)  Greene, 
a granddaughter  of  John  and  Ann  (Almy)  Greene,  and  a great  grand- 
daughter of  John  and  Joan  (Tattersal)  Greene.  Mary  Sayles,  who 
married  William  Greene,  was  a daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Williams) 
Sayles  and  a grand-daughter  of  Roger  Williams,  the  founder  of  Rhode  Is- 
land. Amherst  Dyer,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Luther  M.  Strong,  was  born  in 
Rhode  Island,  and  served  as  a soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  being 
under  the  command  of  Captain  Thomas  Clark,  Colonel  Charles  Dyer, 
Captain  James  Parker,  Colonel  Cook,  Captain  Peter  Wright,  Captain 
Carlisle,  Colonel  Elliot,  and  under  Captain  Parker  in  Colonel  Johnson’s 
regiment,  and  under  Captain  Samuel  Dyer.  He  also  served  on  board  a 
privateer,  and  was  twice  captured.  The  first  time  he  was  held  a 
prisoner  seven  months,  three  months  of  the  time  being  kept  in  irons  on 
Vol.  11—18 


718 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


board  a ship,  after  which  he  was  taken  to  the  West  Indies.  The  second 
time  he  was  more  kindly  treated.  Sometime  after  the  Revolution  he 
settled  in  White  Creek,  Washington  county.  New  York,  and  there  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  long  life,  passing  away  in  1840,  in  the  eighty- 
first  year  of  his  age. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Luther  M.  Strong  reared  three  children,  namely: 
Milton,  Sally  and  John  H.  Milton  is  a florist  at  Sioux  Falls,  South 
Dakota.  He  married  Jessie  Hotelling  and  they  have  two  children,  Milton 
and  Mary.  Sally  married  Charles  B.  Fink,  of  Kenton,  and  they  have 
one  son,  Fred  Fink.  John  H.  Strong  adopted  agriculture  as  his  vocation, 
and  now  operates  a magnificent  farm  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres, 
a part,  of  which  lies  within  the  corporate  limits  of  Kenton.  He  carries 
on  general  farming  and  stock-raising  with  much  success,  and,  with  his 
widowed  mother,  occupies  the  old  homestead. 

Theodore  Scihndewolf  is  worthy  of  special  mention  among  the 
active  and  respected  business  men  of  Kenton,  Hardin  county,  widely 
and  favorably  known  as  one  of  the  leading  furniture  dealers  and  under- 
takers of  this  part  of  Ohio.  A German  by  birth  and  breeding,  he  was 
born,  September  14,  1840,  in  Helmarshausen,  Kur  Hessen,  where  his 
father,  Ferdinand  Schindewolf,  spent  his  entire  life.  The  latter  was 
a hotel  keeper  by  occupation,  as  a host  being  very  popular  with  his 
patrons,  and  his  death  in  about  middle  life  was  a cause  of  regret  to  the 
traveling  public.  He  married  Julia  Rees,  a life-long  resident  of 
Helmarshausen.  She  survived  him  many  years,  after  his  death  conduct- 
ing the  hotel  successfully  and  satisfactorily  as  long  as  she  was  able, 
when  she  relegated  its  management  to  her  son  George,  who  still  owns  and 
operates  the  house.  She  died  in  1885,  in  her  native  town,  leaving  seven 
children,  namely:  Ilermina,  Eliza,  Philip,  William,  Henry,  Theodore 

and  George.  The  sons,  with  the  exception  of  George,  emigrated  to  the 
United  States  and  are  numbered  among  the  valued,  law-abiding  citizens. 

Receiving  excellent  educational  advantages  in  the  Fatherland,  Theo- 
dore Schindewolf  attended  school  regularly  until  the  Easter  Sunday 
preceding  the  fourteenth  anniversary  of  his  birth,  when  he  was  con- 
firmed. Ambitious  then  to  come  to  America,  he  embarked  on  board  a 
sailing  vessel  and  after  an  ocean  voyage  of  fifty-seven  days  landed  in 
New  York  city.  Starting  immediately  for  Ohio,  he  came  by  way  of  the 
Hudson  river  to  Albany,  thence  by  rail  to  Kenton.  This  was  in  the 
time  of  the  old  state  banks,  and  he  soon  found  to  his  sorrow  that  of  the 
small  sum  of  seven  dollars  that  constituted  his  entire  capital  five  dollars 
were  worthless.  Nothing  daunted,  however,  he  soon  apprenticed  him- 
self to  a fellow  countryman,  Peter  Dorn,  with  whom  he  served  three 
years  at  the  cabinet  maker’s  trade,  receiving  for  his  labors  in  addition  to 
his  board  twenty-five  dollars  the  first  year,  fifty  dollars  the  second  and 
one  hundred  dollars  the  last  year.  Completing  his  apprenticeship,  Mr. 
Schindewolf  worked  as  a journeyman  in  Cincinnati  three  years,  after 
which  he  was  for  a time  in  a steam  mill  and  still  house  in  Kenton. 
Enlisting  in  1864  in  Company  G,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-fifth  Ohio 
Volunteer  Infantry,  for  ninety  days,  he  joined  his  regiment  in  Virginia, 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


719 


and  participated  in  the  battles  at  Antietam,  Shepherdsville,  Maryland 
Heights  and  in  others  of  less  importance.  Being  honorably  discharged 
in  September,  1864.  he  returned  to  Kenton,  and  with  two  of  his  brothers 
bought  the  James  White  mill  and  distillery.  Selling  out  his  interest 
in  two  years,  he  removed  to  Ada,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  furniture 
and  undertaking  business  until  1874,  when  he  sold  out,  and  the  following 
eight  months  was  engaged  in  the  hardware  business  in  Kenton.  Dis- 
posing of  his  hardware  stock  Mr.  Schindewolf  bought  the  furniture  and 
undertaking  business  of  his  former  employer,  Peter  Dorn,  and  in  com- 
pany with  Edward  Sorgen  carried  on  a good  business  until  1878.  The 
partnership  being  then  dissolved,  Mr.  Schindewolf  opened  his  present 
establishment  on  Columbus  street,  and  has  here  built  up  an  extensive 
and  lucrative  business,  having  a fine  stock  of  furniture  of  all  kinds  and 
all  of  the  equipments  of  a modern,  up-to-date  undertaking  establishment. 

Mr.  Schindewolf  married,  in  1864.  Barbara  Pfeiffer,  who  was  born 
in  Pleasant  township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio.  Her  father.  John  Pfeiffer, 
was  born  and  reared  in  Ilenkelhoff.  Germany.  In  1835,  accompanied  by 
his  family,  he  emigrated  to  Ohio,  becoming  a pioneer  of  Pleasant  town- 
ship, where  he  bought  a tract  of  timbered  land,  on  which  he  built  from 
round  logs  the  humble  cabin  in  which  Mrs.  Schindewolf  first  opened  her 
eyes  to  the  light  of  this  world.  Mr.  Pfeiffer  was  a man  of  strong  mental 
and  physical  vigor,  industrious  and  enterprising.  He  bought  other 
land,  in  the  course  of  time  becoming  the  owner  of  six  hundred  acres, 
divided  into  different  farms,  all  equipped  with  good  buildings.  He 
married  Eve  Elsesser,  a native  also  of  Henkelhoff,  and  of  their  nine 
children  six  grew  to  years  of  maturity,  as  follows : Lizzie,  Barbara, 

Maggie,  John,  Louis,  and  Henry.  Four  children  have  been  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Schindewolf,  namely : George,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
years ; John,  who  was  born  in  1868,  married  Mary  Ekerus,  and  died  in 
1902,  leaving  one  child,  Theodore ; Minnie,  wife  of  Hamilton  Hoke,  who 
has  two  children,  Virginia  and  Marion ; and  Frank,  who  is  associated  in 
business  with  his  father. 

Religiously  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schindewolf  are  members  of  the  Evan- 
gelical church.  Strongly  opposed  to  slavery,  Mr.  Schindewolf  joined 
the  Republican  party  soon  after  attaining  citizenship,  and  has  ever 
been  loyal  to  its  principles.  Being  elected  town  treasurer  in  1881,  he 
served  two  terms,  and  was  elected  county  treasurer  in  1894  and  re-elected 
to  the  same  office  in  1896,  his  popularity  being  shown  when  he  ran  far 
ahead  of  his  ticket.  Fraternally  he  belongs  to  Cantwell  Post.  No.  97, 
G.  A.  R.,  and  to  Latham  Lodge,  No.  154.  F.  & A.  M. 

John  C.  Bales,  a well  known  business  man  of  Kenton.  Hardin 
county,  is  intimately  associated  with  the  growth  of  its  mercantile  and 
agricultural  interests,  being  actively  engaged  in  the  provision  business, 
and  in  addition  owning  and  superintending  the  management  of  a fine 
farm.  A son  of  Burel  Bales  he  was  born,  July  10,  1863,  in  Kenton, 
coming  from  Virginian  ancestry.  His  grandfather,  George  Bales,  was 
born  in  Virginia,  and  there  spent  the  earlier  years  of  his  life.  Deciding 
to  follow  the  march  of  civilization  westward,  he  came  to  Ohio,  journey- 


720 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


ing  a part  of  the  way  on  the  Ohio  river  and  the  remainder  with  teams. 
Locating  in  Hardin  county,  he  followed  his  trade  of  a mechanic,  being 
largely  employed  in  making  ox  yokes.  He  died  at  the  age  of  three 
score  and  ten  years.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Lucy  Carter. 

Born  in  Virginia,  Burel  Bales  was  but  a youth  when  he  came  with 
his  parents  to  Ohio.  Until  his  marriage  he  was  variously  employed, 
and  being  industrious  and  economical  accumulated  a small  sum  of  money. 
Settling  then  permanently  in  Kenton,  he  rented  land  near  by,  and  was 
here  a resident  until  his  death,  August  17,  1904.  He  married  Catherine 
Tucker,  who  was  born  near  Lafayette,  Allen  county,  Ohio,  April  9,  1836, 
and  is  now  living  in  Kenton.  Her  father,  Lemuel  Tucker,  was  born  in 
Virginia,  and  at  an  early  age  was  left  an  orphan.  Coming  to  Ohio,  he 
lived  first  in  Champaign  county  and  then  in  Allen  county.  In  1848  he 
located  in  Hardin  county,  and  for  twelve  years  was  a resident  of  Buck 
township.  Moving  then  to  Paulding  county,  he  bought  land  and  was 
there  engaged  in  tilling  the  soil  the  remainder  of  his  days.  His  wife, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Maria  Walton,  was  horn  in  Champaign  county, 
Ohio,  and  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-eight  years  in  Paulding  county.  To 
Burel  and  Catherine  (Tucker)  Bales  six  children  were  born,  including 
John  C„  David  S.,  William  E„  and  Isabelle  S.  Asher,  second  oldest, 
died  when  young  and  Jesse,  the  youngest,  died  in  infancy. 

Educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Kenton,  John  C.  Bales  began  the 
battle  of  life  for  himself  as  a wage  earner,  working  by  the  day  or  the 
month.  On  March  5,  1888,  desirous  of  engaging  in  some  special  busi- 
ness, he  formed  a partnership  with  Henry  Alt,  and  for  three  years  dealt 
in  provisions,  having  a good  trade.  Since  the  dissolution  of  the  partner- 
ship in  1891  Mr.  Bales  has  conducted  the  business  alone,  and  in  its  man- 
agement has  met  with  eminent  success.  He  has  invested  largely  in  land, 
and  now  owns  and  operates  a valuable  farm,  in  his  agricultural  ventures 
being  equally  as  prosperous  as  in  his  mercantile  dealings.  He  has  for 
many  years  belonged  to  the  Kenton  fire  deparement,  being  now  its  as- 
sistant chief. 

William  P.  Bowman  is  prominent  among  the  practical  and  pro- 
gressive business  men  of  Kenton  and  has  for  many  years  been  identified 
with  the  varied  interests  of  this  part  of  Hardin  county.  He  was  born 
May  6,  1851.  in  Lancaster  county  Pennsylvania,  a son  of  Joseph  Bowman. 
His  grandfather  Bowman,  a native  of  England,  settled  in  Pennsylvania  on 
emigrating  to  the  United  States,  and  during  the  remainder  of  his  life 
was  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in  Lancaster  county.  Born  and 
brought  up  on  the  home  farm  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  Joseph 
Bowman  was  for  many  years  successfully  engaged  in  mercantile  pur- 
suits in  the  city  of  Lancaster.  He  was  influential  in  business  and 
political  circles,  and  was  appointed  deputy  prothonotary  of  Lancaster 
county  and  served  two  terms,  rendering  such  good  service  that  he  was 
afterwards  twice  elected  to  the  office  of  prothonotary  of  that  county. 
Removing  to  Licking  county,  Ohio,  in  1860,  he  bought  land  and  was 
engaged  in  general  farming  until  1892.  Coming  in  that  year  to  Forest, 
Hardin  county,  he  lived  retired  until  his  death  in  1898,  at  the  venerable 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


721 


age  of  eighty-seven  years.  His  first  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Elizabeth  Parker,  was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  of 
Scotch-Irish  ancestry.  She  died  in  1851,  leaving  six  children,  as 
follows : Amanda,  Amos,  Adaline,  Samuel,  Joseph  and  William  P. 

Joseph  Bowman  married  for  his  second  wife  Eliza  J.  Davis,  a Phila- 
delphia Quakeress.  She  died  in  1902,  having  survived  him  four  years. 

Nine  years  of  age  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Ohio,  William  P. 
Bowman  remained  at  home  until  twenty  years  old.  Going  then  to 
Illinois,  he  lived  for  a year  in  Champaign  county  with  an  older  brother. 
Returning  to  Ohio,  he  was  for  three  years  employed  as  a clerk  in  a gen- 
eral store  in  Alexandria,  afterwards  being  engaged  in  farming  for 
several  months.  Locating  in  Sparta,  Ohio,  in  1876,  he  conducted  a 
hardware  business  there  for  six  years.  Removing  to  Forest,  Hardin 
county,  in  1882,  Mr.  Bowman  was  there  similarly  engaged  until  1898, 
having  an  extensive  trade  in  hardware.  Being  then  elected  county 
treasurer,  he  took  up  his  resilience  in  Kenton.  In  1900  he  was  re-elected 
to  the  same  office,  in  which  he  served  two  terms  of  two  years  each.  In 
1905  he  established  a hardware  store  in  Kenton,  and  managed  it  suc- 
cessfully until  1907,  when  he  traded  his  stock  for  a farm,  which  he  still 
owns,  in  Butler  county.  Mr.  Bowman  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
Crystal  Ice  and  Cold  Storage  Company,  of  which  he  has  been  a director 
since  its  incorporation,  and  of  which  he  was  manager  during  its  first 
year  of  existence.  He  is  one  of  the  directors  of  the  Kenton  Telephone 
Company,  and  in  1908  assisted  in  installing  the  Automatic  telephone 
system. 

Mr.  Bowman  married,  in  1872,  Lizzie  Iiazelton,  who  was  born  near 
Alexandria,  Ohio,  a daughter  of  Solon  and  Louise  (Beaumont)  ILazelton. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bowman  are  both  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
chprch.  Politically  Mr.  Bowman  is  identified  with  the  Republican 
party,  and  fraternally  he  is  a member  of  Kenton  Commandery,  No.  58, 
K.  T. 

Delano  M.  Gage. — A man  of  push  and  vim,  gifted  with  quick  per- 
ceptions and  an  intelligent  mind,  Delano  M.  Gage  has  been  identified 
with  the  industrial  progress  of  Kenton  for  many  years,  and  is  now  carry- 
ing on  a substantial  business  as  a member  of  the  Robinson-Gage  Lumber 
Company.  A native  of  Ohio,  he  was  born,  August  10,  1864,  in  Findlay, 
Seneca  county,  coming  from  thrifty  New  England  ancestry.  His 
father,  Philemon  Gage,  was  born,  reared  and  educated  in  Vermont,  and 
there  learned  the  saddler’s  trade.  Coming  as  a young  man  to  Ohio,  he 
located  in  Findlay,  then  a small  village  in  a sparsely  settled  country. 
He  followed  his  trade  there  awhile,  and  upholstered  the  first  passenger 
coach  that  ran  on  the  Mad  River  railroad.  During  the  exciting  days 
of  1849  he  joined  a band  of  gold  seekers  and  made  an  overland  journey 
to  California,  where  he  was  engaged  in  mining  two  years.  Coming- 
home  then  by  way  of  the  Isthmus  lie  visited  with  his  family  six  months, 
and  then  returned  to  the  Pacific  coast,  and  continued  his  labors  with 
pick  and  shovel  for  another  two  years.  Having  accumulated  quite  a 
sum  of  money,  he  came  back  to  his  home  in  Findlay  and  was  successfully 


722 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  for  a number  of  years.  Subsequently 
assisting  in  the  organization  of  the  State  Bank  at  Findlay,  he  was  elected 
president  of  the  institution,  and  devoted  his  time  to  its  management  until 
his  death,  when  but  sixty-one  years  old.  He  married  Caroline  Carlin, 
a daughter  of  Parlee  Carlin,  a pioneer  of  Findlay,  who  for  many  years 
operated  a flour  mill  and  a saw  mill  on  the  Blanchard  river.  She  is 
now  seventy-eight  years  of  age,  and  is  spending  her  time  with  her 
children,  of  whom  she  has  four,  namely : John  L.,  Harriet,  Delano  M. 
and  Catherine. 

After  completing  the  course  of  study  in  the  public  schools  of 
Findlay  Delano  M.  Gage  still  further  advanced  his  education  by  attend- 
ing the  Ohio  Northern  University  at  Ada.  Upon  leaving  school  he 
entered  the  United  States  Railway  Mail  service,  for  three  years  being- 
railway  mail  clerk  in  Montana.  Coming  then  to  Kenton  Mr.  Gage 

was  here  for  three  years  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  chairs,  after- 
wards being  employed  as  bookkeeper  for  a time  at  the  Straw  Board 
Works.  Starting  then  in  the  lumber  business  he  continued  operations 
alone  for  a while,  and  then  organized  the  Robinson-Gage  Lumber  Com- 
pany, which  not  only  deals  in  lumber  but  manufactures  hardwood 
lumber  and  wooden  boxes,  the  business  being  already  large  and  profitable. 

In  1887  Mr.  Gage  married  Anna  Harris,  who  was  born  in  Kenton, 
a daughter  of  George  II.  and  Maggie  Harris.  Two  daughters  have  been 
born  of  this  union,  Margaret  and  Caroline.  Fraternally  Mr.  Gage  is 
a member  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks ; and  of 
Aminta  Lodge,  No.  79,  I.  0.  O.  F.  Religiously  he  and  his  family  belong 
to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Wilson  S.  Cole,  an  able  representative  of  the  agricultural  interests 
of  Hardin  county,  is  a model  farmer  in  every  sense  implied  by  the 
term,  and  now  owns  and  occupies  one  of  the  most  valuable  and  beau- 
tiful country  estates  to  be  found  in  this  part  of  the  state,  it  being 
finely  located  in  Buck  township.  He  is  a native  born  citizen  his  birth 
having  occurred  in  March,  1842,  in  Goshen  township,  where  his 
father,  Henry  Cole,  was  a pioneer  settler.  His  grandfather,  Cole,  settled 
in  Fairfield  county,  Ohio,  at  an  early  day,  and  did  his  full  share  of  the 
pioneer  labor  of  developing  the  neighborhood  in  which  he  lived. 

Henry  Cole  was  born  and  brought  up  in  Fairfield  county,  and  be- 
came a farmer  from  choice.  Soon  after  his  marriage  he  took  up  his 
residence  in  Goshen  township,  coming  here  when  the  land  was  in  its 
primitive  condition,  and  the  dense  forests  were  inhabited  by  bears,  deer, 
wolves,  and  smaller  animals  that  roamed  at  will,  and  often  caused  sad 
havoc  in  the  new  settlements.  Kenton  was  then  a small  hamlet,  composed 
entirely  of  log  cabins.  Buying  a timbered  tract  in  the  northeastern  part 
of  the  township,  he  cleared  a space  in  which  to  erect  a rude  cabin  from 
round  logs.  This  he  subsequently  replaced  by  a more  commodious  resi- 
dence built  of  hewed  logs,  riving  the  boards  that  covered  the  roof, 
holding  them  in  place  by  weighted  poles.  For  years  thereafter  there 
were  no  railways  in  the  state,  and  the  settlers  had  to  go  to  Sandusky 
to  procure  salt  and  other  articles  equally  necessary,  an  entire  week 


WILSON  S.  COLE  AND  FAMILY 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


723 


being  consumed  in  making  the  round  trip.  Much  of  the  land  which  he 
bought  was  covered  with  black  walnut  timber,  and  in  clearing  it  large 
trees  were  felled,  and  timber  that  would  now  be  worth  thousands  of 
dollars  was  burned  without  a thought  being  given  as  to  the  future 
wealth  it  might  represent.  In  1854  he  sold  that  property,  and  purchased 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  Washington  township.  About  one- 
half  of  the  land  had  been  cleared,  and  a set  of  log  buildings  had  been 
previously  erected.  Selling  out  a few  years  later,  he  removed  to 
Cessna  township,  and  there  resided  until  death,  when  past  eighty  years 
of  age.  He  married  for  his  first  wife  Lucinda  Kaughman,  who  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania,  of  German  ancestry.  She  died  in  1855,  leaving  four 
children,  Wesley,  Henry,  Martha  and  Wilson  S. 

The  rude  building  in  which  Wilson  S.  Cole  gleaned  his  early  educa- 
tion was  built  of  logs,  heated  by  a fireplace,  while  the  seats  were  simply 
split  logs  with  pins  inserted  for  legs,  and  the  desks  on  which  the 
pupils  learned  to  use  the  quill  pen  was  a plank  of  puncheon  placed 
against  the  wall.  To  reach  this  palace  of  learning  he  had  to  trudge  a 
mile  and  a half  each  morning,  following  a trail  marked  by  blazed  trees. 
He  lived  with  his  father,  assisting  in  clearing  and  improving  the  land, 
the  greater  part  of  the  time  until  December,  1861,  when  he  enlisted  in 
Company  A,  Eiglity-seconcl  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  the  same  company 
and  same  regiment  in  which  he  veteranized  in  1864. 

Mr.  Cole  was  with  his  command  in  all  of  its  marches,  campaigns 
and  battles,  among  the  more  important  of  which  were  the  engagement 
at  McDowell’s,  Second  Bull  Run,  Chaneellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Cedar 
Mountain,  the  Battle  above  the  Clouds ; was  with  Sherman  in  his  cam- 
paign, taking  part  in  all  of  the  engagements  enroute  to  Atlanta,  and 
participated  in  the  seige  and  capture  of  that  city.  He  subsequently 
marched  with  the  gallant  hero  to  the  sea,  thence  through  the  Carolinas, 
and  by  way  of  Richmond,  Virginia,  to  Washington,  where  he  took  part 
in  the  Grand  Review.  Going  then  to  Louisville,  Kentucky,  he  remained 
there  a brief  time,  and  was  from  there  sent  to  Columbus,  Ohio,  where 
he  received  his  honorable  discharge  from  the  service. 

Soon  after  returning  to  Hardin  county,  Mr.  Cole  bought  forty  acres 
of  timbered  land  in  Washington  township,  paying  sis  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars  for  it.  He  cleared  ten  acres  of  it,  set  out  an  orchard,  and  then 
sold  it  for  one  thousand  dollars.  He  afterwards  bought  another  forty- 
acre  tract  in  the  same  township,  on  which  there  were  some  improvements, 
several  acres  having  been  cleared,  and  a log  house  and  stable  having- 
been  erected.  Mr.  Cole  built  a frame  house,  and  after  living  there  eight 
years  sold  the  place  for  two  thousand  and  four  hundred  dollars.  Moving 
then  to  Goshen  township,  Mr.  Cole  bought  first  one  hundred  and  six  acres 
of  land,  and  later  purchased  fifty-three  more  acres.  He  farmed  there 
successfully  for  nineteen  years,  when,  having  acquired  a goodly  share 
of  this  world’s  wealth,  he  rented  his  land,  and  lived  retired  from  active 
business  in  Kenton.  In  1906  Mr.  Cole  sold  that  estate  and  bought  his 
present  farm,  which  is  advantageously  located  in  Buck  township,  two 
and  one-lialf  miles  from  Kenton,  assuming  its  possession  in  December 
1908.  This  farm,  which  he  now  occupies,  contains  one  hundred  and 


724 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


fifty-eight  acres  of  highly  improved  land,  and  has  a commodious  frame 
barn  and  a large  brick  house  thoroughly  modern  in  style  and  equipments 
and  surrounded  by  ample  grounds,  on  which  there  are  many  beautiful 
shade  and  ornamental  trees,  rendering  it  one  of  the  most  desirable 
country  homes  to  be  found  in  any  community. 

Mr.  Cole  married  on  September  22,  1870,  Eliza  Jane  Sams,  who 
was  born  in  Brown  county,  Ohio,  a daughter  of  Ellis  Sams,  of  whom 
a brief  sketch  may  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  biographical  work.  Five 
children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cole,  namely : Emma,  who  died 
when  one  month  old,  Clara,  Earl,  Della  and  Nellie.  Della,  wife  of  George 
Fink,  has  one  son,  Paul  Fink.  Nellie  married  Jacob  Luckhoff,  and  they 
have  one  daughter,  Mildred  Luckhoff,  who  lives  in  Dayton.  Earl  E.  is 
now  making  his  home  in  Kenton.  Politically  Mr.  Cole  is  an  earnest 
supporter  of  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party.  Fraternally  he 
belongs  to  Cantwell  Post  No.  97,  G.  A.  R.  Religiously  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Cole  and  two  of  their  daughters  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. 

Thomas  C.  Mahon. — Conspicuous  for  his  ability,  integrity  and 
worth,  Thomas  C.  Mahon  holds  a position  of  note  among  the  leading 
citizens  of  Kenton,  where  he  is  extensively  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
law  and  identified  with  the  higher  interests  of  the  city,  at  the  present 
time  being  president  of  the  board  of  education.  A son  of  James  Mahon, 
lie  was  born,  July  4,  1860,  in  Marseilles,  Wyandot  county,  Ohio,  of 
pioneer  stock.  His  grandfather,  Thomas  Mahon,  was  a very  early 
settler  of  Richland  county,  Ohio,  where  he  resided  many  years.  He 
afterwards  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits,  being  first  located  in  Scot- 
town,  from  there  going  to  Williamstown.  He  spent  his  last  days  in 
Dunkirk,  Ohio,  dying  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven  years. 

One  of  a large  family  of  children,  James  Mahon  was  born,  May  25, 
1833,  in  Richland  county,  Ohio,  and  as  a youth  began  his  mercantile 
career  as  a clerk  in  his  father’s  store.  Embarking  in  business  for  him- 
self, he  conducted  a general  store  at  Marseilles  for  a number  of  seasons. 
Removing  from  there  to  Dunkirk  in  1862,  he  was  for  a long  time  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  business  as  a merchant  and  manufacturer.  He  is 
now  living  practically  retired,  although  he  devotes  a part  of  his  leisure 
to  the  superintendence  of  his  near-by  farm.  He  married  Phebe  Waples, 
who  was  born  in  Fayette  county,  Ohio,  a daughter  of  B.  F.  Waples,  and 
into  their  household  seven  sons  and  one  daughter  were  born,  four  being 
deceased,  three  sons  and  the  daughter.  The  four  living  sons  are  Judson, 
Thomas  C.,  Edward  and  Hoyt  B. 

During  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  Thomas  C.  Mahon  at- 
tended the  public  schools  and  assisted  his  father  in  the  store.  He 
subsequently  advanced  his  education  by  an  attendance  at  the  Ohio 
Wesleyan  University  in  Delaware,  Ohio,  afterwards  beginning  the  study 
of  law  in  the  office  of  Daugherty  & Daugherty,  completing  his  studies 
at  the  Cincinnati  Law  School.  Opening  a law  office  in  Kenton  in  1889, 
Mr.  Mahon  has  since  been  actively  and  successfully  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession  in  this  city,  and  has  built  up  a large  and  lu- 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


725 


crative  clientage.  He  is  a man  of  great  enterprise  and  ability,  and  is  con- 
nected with  various  organizations  of  a financial  and  fraternal  nature.  He 
is  vice  president  of  the  Scioto  Sign  Company  and  a director  in  the  Kenton 
National  Bank.  He  is  a member  of  Kenton  Commandery,  No.  58,  K.  T. ; 
of  Pythian  Lodge,  No.  164,  K.  of  P. ; and  of  Kenton  Lodge,  B.  P.  0.  E. 
Politically  he  has  always  been  a loyal  supporter  of  the  principles  of  the 
Democratic  party,  and  has  served  acceptably  in  various  official  positions. 
In  1893  he  was  elected  city  attorney,  and  in  1896  was  elected  prose- 
cuting attorney  of  Hardin  county.  In  1899  he  was  re-elected  to  the 
same  responsible  office,  receiving  a handsome  majority  of  the  votes  cast, 
and  served  two  terms  of  three  years  each.  He  is  now,  as  above  related, 
president  of  the  city  board  of  education,  a position  to  which  he  was 
elected  in  1907. 

On  April  14,  1885,  Mr.  Mahon  was  united  in  marriage  with  Maude 
Alexander,  who  was  born  in  Dunkirk,  Ohio,  a daughter  of  J.  B.  and 
Charlotte  (Smith)  Alexander.  Two  sons  have  been  born  to  them, 
namely:  Paul  T.  and  Prank  B.  The  former  was  graduated  from 

the  Kenton  high  school  with  the  class  of  1907,  and  the  latter  with  the 
class  of  1909,  and  both  are  now  students  at  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  University, 
their  father’s  alma  mater.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mahon  and  their  sons  are 
members  of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  of  which  Mr.  Mahon 
has  been  a steward  for  many  years. 

Elmer  S.  Protzman,  M.  D.,  by  nature,  temper  and  training  singu- 
larly fitted  for  general  medical  practice,  has  met  with  marked  success 
in  his  professional  career,  and  is  eminently  worthy  of  the  high 
position  he  holds  among  the  leading  physicians  of  Kenton.  A son  of 
the  late  Dr.  Silas  Protzman,  he  was  born,  March  28,  1872,  in  Fairfield, 
Ohio.  The  Doctor’s  grandfather,  Captain  John  Protzman,  was  born  in 
Maryland,  and  there  obtained  his  early  education.  At  the  age  of  four- 
teen years,  in  1805,  he  came  to  Ohio,  and  subsequently  settled  near  Ger- 
mantown, Montgomery  county,  where  he  followed  milling  and  distilling, 
two  industries  then  frequently  combined.  A patriotic  citizen,  he  com- 
manded a company  of  soldiers  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  died  in  1861, 
aged  three  score  and  ten  years.  His  wife,  Margaret  Shafer,  a native  of 
Pennsylvania,  died  in  1860. 

One  of  a family  of  ten  children,  Dr.  Silas  Protzman  was  born  in 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  January  17,  1842.  He  obtained  the  rudi- 
ments of  his  education  in  the  common  schools  of  his  district,  and  after- 
wards attended  Holbrook’s  Normal  School  in  Lebanon,  Ohio.  Enlisting 
in  1862  in  Company  F,  One  Hundred  and  Tenth  Ohio  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, he  was  at  the  front  in  the  battle  of  Winchester,  and  was  present 
when  the  gallant  Sheridan  completed  his  memorable  ride.  He  was 
afterwards  assigned  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  and  took  part  in  the 
engagements  at  Brandy  Station  on  June  5,  from  August  1 to  August  3, 
on  September  6,  and  on  November  8.  After  this  he  served  in  the 
Inspector  General’s  office  of  the  Third  Division,  Sixth  Corps,  which  was 
everywhere  known  as  the  Old  Fighting  Corps  of  General  Sedgwick.  He 
was  once  with  others  taken  prisoner,  but  his  captors,  fortunately,  were 


726 


HISTORY  OP  IIARDIN  COUNTY 


Germans.  He  spoke  to  them  in  their  own  language  and  they  exchanged 
their  well-worn  uniforms  for  theirs  and  turned  them  loose.  He  quickly 
rejoined  his  command,  with  which  he  remained  until  receiving  his 
honorable  discharge  from  the  service.  Returning  home,  Silas  Protzman 
began  the  study  of  medicine  with  his  brother  William,  who  was  then 
practicing  medicine  at  Yellow  Springs,  Ohio,  but  is  now  in  Lincoln, 
Nebraska.  Being  graduated  from  the  Cincinnati  Medical  College  in 
1869,  Dr.  Silas  Protzman  began  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Fairfield, 
Greene  county,  where  he  remained  until  1872.  Coming  in  that  year  to 
Kenton,  he  was  here  engaged  in  his  professional  labors  until  his  death  in 
1885,  at  the  comparatively  early  age  of  forty-three. 

Dr.  Silas  Protzman  married  Henrietta  Sliuey,  who  was  born  near 
Eaton,  Preble  county,  Ohio,  a daughter  of  Adam  Shuey,  who  was  of 
early  Holland  ancestry.  The  family  from  which  she  sprung  was  known 
in  Pennsylvania  as  early  as  1732,  and  some  of  its  members  served  in  the 
Provincial  Assembly  at  the  time  of  the  Revolutionary  war.  Her  great- 
grandfather, John  Shuey,  Sr.,  and  her  grandfather,  John  Shuey,  Jr., 
both  lived  in  Pennsylvania,  the  former  spending  his  entire  life  in  that 
state.  Adam  Shuey  lived  for  a time  near  Hagerstown,  Maryland, 
moving  from  there  to  Preble  county,  Ohio,  in  pioneer  days,  when  the 
country  was  a vast  wilderness.  He  afterwards  settled  at  Fairfield, 
Greene  county,  Ohio,  where  he  improved  a farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres,  on  which  he  lived  until  after  the  death  of  his  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Sarah  Neiswander.  He  afterwards  made  his  home  with  his 
children,  and  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years.  He  was  a member  of 
the  Reformed  church,  and  his  wife  belonged  to  the  United  Brethren 
church.  After  the  death  of  her  husband  Mrs.  Henrietta  (Shuey) 
Protzman  married  for  her  second  husband  Charles  W.  Oldt  and  now 
resides  at  Lewistown,  Pennsylvania. 

The  only  child  of  his  parents,  Elmer  S.  Protzman  attended  first  the 
public  schools,  after  which  he  took  a course  of  study  at  Wittenberg 
College  in  Springfield,  Ohio,  where  he  subsequently  began  the  study  of 
medicine  with  Alexander  Dunlap,  M.  D.  In  1895  he  was  graduated 
from  the  Medical  College  of  Ohio  in  Cincinnati,  with  the  degree  of  M. 
D.,  and  the  following  year  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Kenton, 
where  he  has  since  remained,  having  by  skill  and  proved  ability  won  the 
confidence  and  good  will  of  the  people  and  built  up  a large  and  lucrative 
patronage. 

Dr.  Protzman  married,  in  1898,  Ida  Marcella  Watt,  a daughter  of 
James  Watt,  and  granddaughter  of  Dr.  Samuel  Watt,  an  early  physician 
of  Kenton.  Her  great-grandfather,  William  Watt,  born  in  Ireland  of 
Scotch  ancestry,  emigrated  to  this  country  and  lived  for  a time  in 
Philadelphia.  He  came  from  there  to  Ohio  at  an  early  period  of  its 
settlement,  and  spent  his  last  years  in  Cadiz.  Samuel  Watt  was  born  in 
Cadiz,  Harrison  county,  Ohio,  in  1805,  and  when  a young  man  there 
began  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Wilson.  He  subsequently  at- 
tended lectures  at  Jefferson  Medical  College  in  Washington,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Jefferson  county,  Ohio, 
remaining  there  until  1839,  when  he  settled  in  Kenton,  where  for  many 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


727 


years  he  had  a large  practice,  remaining  here  until  1858.  In  1848  and 
1849  he  represented  Hardin  county  in  the  state  legislature,  and  in  1858 
was  elected  probate  judge,  and  filled  the  office  three  consecutive  terms. 
Removing  to  Ada  in  1873,  he  lived  there  retired  until  his  death,  in 
October,  1876. 

Janies  Watt  was  born  in  Kenton,  Ohio,  December  6,  1839,  and  here 
acquired  his  elementary  education.  He  was  graduated  from  West- 
minster College,  New  Wilmington,  Pennsylvania,  with  the  class  of  1865, 
and  the  following  year  was  graduated  from  the  Albany  Law  School  in 
Albany,  New  York.  He  was  subsequently  actively  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  law  until  1882,  when  he  was  elected  cashier  of  the  Kenton 
Savings  Bank,  a responsible  position  which  he  filled  acceptably  several 
years.  At  the  present  time  he  is  serving  as  deputy  county  clerk.  He 
married  Ida  M.  Chapman,  a daughter  of  Harvey  Chapman,  of  Hardin 
county. 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  Protzman  have  one  child,  a daughter  named  Caroline. 
Politically  the  Doctor  has  always  been  a stanch  Republican,  and  has 
served  three  terms  as  county  coroner  and  ten  years  as  a member  of  the 
board  of  health.  He  is  a member  of  the  County,  the  State  and  the 
American  Medical  Societies,  and  takes  great  interest  in  each.  Frater- 
nally he  is  a member  of  Latham  Lodge,  No.  154,  P.  & A.  M. ; of  Scioto 
Chapter,  No.  119,  R.  A.  M. ; and  of  Kenton  Lodge,  No.  157,  B.  P.  0.  E. ; 
and  he  also  belongs  to  the  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution.  Mrs. 
Protzman  belongs  to  the  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution,  and  is 
a member  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

Emanuel  Lawson. — For  a quarter  of  a century  the  late  Emanuel 
Lawson  was  intimately  associated  with  the  development  and  growth  of 
of  the  mercantile  and  financial  prosperity  of  Kenton,  his  operations 
being  extensive  and  exceedingly  remunerative.  He  was  a man  of  mark 
and  of  recognized  worth  as  a citizen,  his  business  ability  being  unques- 
tioned and  his  character  irreproachable.  He  was  born,  October  11, 
1830,  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  a son  of  John  Lawson,  who 
was,  as  far  as  known,  a native  of  the  Keystone  state.  Accompanied  by 
his  wife  and  children  John  Lawson  came  to  Ohio  about  1835,  and  for  a 
number  of  years  followed  his  chosen  occupation  of  a farmer  in  Richland 
county.  He  subsequently  moved  to  Defiance  county,  and  there  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life. 

A small  boy  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Ohio,  Emanuel 
Lawson  profited  by  the  meagre  facilities  that  were  afforded  him  in  his 
youth  to  obtain  an  education,  attending  regularly  the  short  terms  of 
the  district  school.  When  a young  man  he  began  his  independent 
career  as  an  employe  of  the  Big  Pour  Railroad  Company,  being  ticket 
agent  at  Shelby.  He  afterwards  established  a well-paying  business  as 
a dealer  in  hay  and  grain.  In  1878  Mr.  Lawson  located  in  Kenton, 
and  here  built  up  an  extensive  business  along  the  same  line  of  industry, 
buying  and  shipping  grain  in  large  quantities,  in  his  trancactions  reap- 
ing a good  annual  income.  He  became  identified  with  financial 
organizations,  being  made  a director  in  two  banking  institutions.  Here 


728 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


he  resided,  an  esteemed  and  respected  citizen,  until  his  death,  July  10, 
1903. 

Mr.  Lawson  married  Arah  E.  Nagle,  who  survives  him.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  Henry  Nagle.  Her  grandfather,  Frederick  Nagle,  was 
without  doubt  a life-long  resident  of  Pennsylvania.  Until  fifteen  years 
of  age  Henry  Nagle  resided  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  was  born  and  educated.  He  then  came  to  Ohio,  joining  an  elder 
brother  in  Clark  county.  After  attaining  his  majority  he  established 
himself  in  business  as  a merchant  at  West  Liberty,  Logan  county,  from 
there  coming  to  Hardin  county  and  locating  at  Roundhead,  where  he 
opened  one  of  the  very  first  stores,  putting  in  a stock  of  general  merchan- 
dise. He ' used  to  trade  for  cattle,  and  also  bought  stock,  which  he 
would  drive  to  the  eastern  markets,  making  the  trips  on  horseback, 
that  being  before  the  days  of  railroads  with  their  palace  stock  cars. 
All  of  his  merchandise  was  brought  to  Hardin  county  by  canal  and 
teams.  He  was  very  successful  as  a merchant,  accumulating  considera- 
ble wealth,  and  spent  his  last  years  retired  from  business  activities  in 
Kenton,  passing  away  in  the  seventy-ninth  year  of  his  age.  The 
maiden  name  of  the  wife  of  Henry  Nagle  was  Asenatli  Crockett.  She 
was  born  in  Kentucky,  and  belonged  to  the  family  from  which  David 
Crockett,  the  noted  frontiersman,  sprung.  She  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy-five  years.  To  her  and  her  husband  twelve  children  were  born. 

Politically  Mr.  Lawson  was  a sound  Democrat.  Religiously  he 
was  a member,  with  his  wife,  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in 
which  he  was  an  active  worker,  and  for  many  years  was  the  secretary 
of  its  Sunday  school. 

William  H.  Lawrence. — A man  of  sterling  integrity  and  worth, 
William  IT.  Lawrence  holds  a position  of  note  among  the  honored  and 
highly  esteemed  citizens  of  Kenton,  where  he  is  now  living,  retired  from 
active  pursuits.  A native  of  Logan  county,  Ohio,  he  was  born,  Decem- 
ber 21,  1848,  at  Belief ontaine,  a son  of  Hon.  William  Lawrence,  who  in 
the  three  fold  capacity  of  lawyer,  soldier  and  statesman  achieved  emi- 
nence and  honor,  becoming  one  of  the  best  known  men  of  his  day.  He 
is  of  English  descent,  his  lineage  having  been  traced  back  to  Sir 
Robert  Lawrence,  upon  whom  Richard,  Coeur  de  Lion,  bestowed  a coat- 
of-arms  for  his  distinguished  services  in  planting  the  banner  of  the 
Crusaders  on  the  walls  of  Saint  Jean  D’Acre  in  1191.  Among  his 
ancestors  of  a later  generation  were  Robert  Lawrence,  of  Ashley  Hall, 
Lancashire,  England,  and  one  James  Lawrence,  who  married  Matilda 
Washington,  a member  of  the  same  family  that  produced  George 
Washington. 

Joseph  Lawrence,  Mr.  Lawrence’s  grandfather,  was  born,  Decem- 
ber 21,  1793,  at  Byberry,  Friends’  Meeting  House,  which  is  now  included 
within  the  corporate  limits  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania. 
He  served  as  a soldier  in  Captain  Beneget’s  company  during  the  war  of 
1812.  Migrating  to  Ohio  in  1816,  and  married  at  Mount  Pleasant, 
Temperance  Gilchrist,  who  was  born  in  Berkeley  county,  Virginia,  Aug- 
ust 6,  1792.  Locating  in  1830  on  a farm  in  Jefferson  county,  Ohio,  he 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


729 


lived  there  a number  of  years.  Subsequently  buying  farm  lands  in  Har- 
din county,  he  took  up  his  residence  at  Bellefontaine,  and  there  lived 
until  his  death,  in  the  meantime  superintending  the  care  of  his  farm. 

William  Lawrence  was  born,  June  20.  1819,  at  Mount  Pleasant, 
Ohio.  An  intelligent,  studious  lad.  with  scholarly  ambitions,  he  at- 
tended every  session  of  the  district  school,  assisting  in  the  farm  labors 
during  the  long  summer  vacations.  He  acquired  a good  knowledge  of 
surveying  when  young,  and  before  entering  his  “teens”  wrote  a book 
entitled  “A  solution  of  Gummer’s  Surveying.”  In  1833  he  attended 
Rev.  John  Tidball’s  Academy  in  Knoxville,  and  in  1838  was  graduated 
from  Franklin  College  in  Athens,  with  the  degree  of  A.  B.,  and  as  vale- 
dictorian of  his  class.  In  the  meantime  he  had  assisted  on  the  home 
farm  a part  of  each  year  and  had  taught  in  the  district  school.  He 
subsequently  studied  medicine,  natural  philosophy  and  chemistry,  acquir- 
ing a.  knowledge  that  became  useful  to  him  in  later  years.  In  1838  he 
began  the  study  of  law  at  McConnelsville,  and  in  March.  1840,  was 
graduated  from  the  Cincinnati  Law  School  with  the  degree  of  LL.  B., 
and  was  at  once  admitted  to  practice  in  the  supreme  court  of  the  state 
at  Zanesville.  In  1840  and  1841  William  Lawrence  was  reported  for 
the  House  of  Representatives  of  Ohio,  and  was  correspondent  for  several 
newspapers.  Locating  at  Bellefontaine  in  1841.  he  began  the  practice 
of  his  profession,  and  soon  took  rank  among  the  leading  attorneys  of 
the  state,  his  name  subsequently  appearing  in  the  records  of  the  supreme 
courts  of  Ohio.  Kansas  and  the  United  States.  By  authority  of  At- 
torney General  Williams  he  was  the  leading  counsel  for  the  United 
States  in  the  case  of  the  Goverment  versus  the  L.  L.  and  G.  Railroad, 
whereby  a tract  of  nine  hundred  and  sixty  thousand  acres  of  land  was 
reclaimed  by  the  United  States  and  opened  for  settlers.  In  1842 
William  Lawrence  was  appointed  commissioner  of  bankruptcy  for  Logan 
county,  and  in  1845-6  was  prosecuting  attorney  for  the  same  county. 
In  1847  he  represented  his  district  in  the  state  legislature,  and  was 
elected  state  senator  in  1849  and  re-elected  to  the  same  high  position 
in  1854.  In  1852  he  was  candidate  for  elector  on  the  Whig  ticket. 

In  1862  William  Lawrence,  now  entitled  to  the  term  “Honorable,” 
enlisted  for  three  months  service  in  the  Civil  war,  and  was  made  colonel 
of  the  Eighty-fourth  Regiment  of  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry.  One 
month  of  the  time  he  served  as  president  of  the  court  martial,  before 
which  many  important  cases  were  tried.  In  1863  he  was  appointed  by 
President  Lincoln  as  district  .judge  of  Florida,  but  declined  the  honor. 
In  1864  he  was  elected  to  congress,  and  was  subsequently  re-elected, 
serving  with  the  exception  of  one  term  until  1877.  In  congress  he  was 
the  author  of  several  bills  that  became  laws  and  championed  many 
others.  He  was  in  full  sympathy  with  the  Republican  party,  and  was 
the  author  of  the  bill  giving  each  Union  soldier  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  government  land,  and  was  one  of  the  first  in  congress  to  urge 
that  Indian  lands  should  no  longer  be  disposed  of  by  railway  companies 
but  reserved  for  homesteaders.  He  likewise  introduced  the  bill  in 
congress  to  make  the  office  of  attorney  general  an  executive  department. 
In  1877  he  was  chosen  by  the  Republicans  of  the  House  to  argue  the 


730 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


case  of  four  contested  states  before  the  Electoral  Commission,  and  his 
portrait  appears  in  the  painting  entitled  “Electoral  Commission,”  which 
was  purchased  by  congress  and  now  adorns  the  walls  of  the  Capitol. 

Hon.  William  Lawrence  delivered  several  notable  addresses  on  the 
subject  of  wool  protection,  one  of  the,  entitled  “The  Protection  of  Wool 
from  the  Standpoint  of  the  Grower,”  was  printed  by  the  “Home  Market- 
Club”  of  Boston,  and  was  widely  circulated  by  its  members.  He  was 
appointed  by  Governor  Foraker  as  a delegate  to  the  Farmer’s  Congress 
of  the  United  States,  held  at  Chicago  in  1887,  and  the  address  which  he 
there  delivered  on  the  wool  industry  was  published  and  distributed  as  a 
campaign  document  by  the  Republican  National  Committee.  He  was  a 
zealous  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  was  a delegate 
from  the  Central  Ohio  Conference  to  the  General  Conference  in  the  years 
1872-76-80  and  1892.  In  1871  he  organized  the  Bellefontaine  National 
Bank,  of  which  he  was  the  principal  stockholder,  and  served  as  its 
president  during  its  earlier  years  of  existence.  He  was  an  enthusiastic 
farmer  and  stock  raiser,  and  owned  farms  in  Buck,  Taylor  Creek  and 
Lynn  townships,  Hardin  county,  and  carried  on  general  agriculture 
with  success.  He  died  May  8,  1899,  his  death  being  a public  loss  to 
the  community  in  which  he  resided,  to  the  county  and  to  the  state. 

Hon.  William  Lawrence  married,  December  20,  1843,  Cornelia 
Hawkins,  a daughter  of  Hon.  William  Hawkins.  She  died  February 
29,  1844.  He  married  on  March  2,  1845,  Caroline  M.  Miller,  who  was 
born  January  20,  1828,  in  Port  Republic,  Rockingham  county,  Virginia, 
a daughter  of  Henry  Miller,  who  was  born  in  Virginia,  of  German 
ancestors,  and  moved  from  there  to  Ohio,  becoming  a pioneer  settler  of 
Bellefontaine,  where  he  was  for  many  years  successfully  engaged  in 
mercantile  pursuits,  conducting  a general  store.  She  was  a woman  of 
culture,  receiving  her  education  at  the  Presbyterian  Female  Seminary 
in  Granville,  Ohio.  Three  sons  and  three  daughters  blessed  their  union, 
namely : Joseph  H.,  William  H.,  John  M.,  Cornelia,  Frances  C.  and 
Mary  Temperance. 

Acquiring  his  rudimentary  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Bellefontaine,  William  H.  Lawrence  completed  his  studies  at  the  Swed- 
enborgian  College  at  Urbana,  Ohio.  Turning  then  his  attention  to 
agricultural  pursuits,  for  which  he  had  a natural  love  and  taste,  he  was 
for  thirty  years  industriously  and  prosperously  engaged  in  farming  and 
stock-raising  in  Lynn  township.  Removing  to  Kenton  in  1900,  he  has 
since  resided  here  retired  from  active  business  cares. 

Mr.  Lawrence  married,  February  5,  1878,  Agnes  Gunn,  who  was 
born  in  Lynn  township,  Hardin  county,  November  23,  1854,  a daughter 
of  John  Gunn,  Jr.,  coming  from  Scotch  ancestry.  Her  grandfather, 
John  Gunn,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Scotland  in  1770,  and  as  a young  man 
joined  the  English  army,  with  which  in  1800  he  came  across  the  Atlantic 
to  Canada.  After  leaving  the  army  he  continued  his  residence  for  a 
time  in  Canada,  living  first  in  Montreal,  then  in  Malden,  and  afterward  in 
Wapakoneta  where  he  was  an  Indian  trader.  Coming  to  Ohio  in  1808, 
he  located  at  McKee  Creek,  Logan  county.  The  country  roundabout 
was  then  in  its  pristine  wildness,  deer,  bear,  wolves,  panthers,  turkeys 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


731 


and  wild  game  of  all  kinds  being  plentiful,  while  the  Indians  were  num- 
erous and  sometimes  quite  troublesome.  He  became  a tavern  keeper, 
and  during  the  war  of  1812  rendered  valuable  service  to  the  United 
States  commissary  department,  and  for  these  services  his  widow  was 
subsequently  awarded  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  government  land. 
He  died  in  1842,  and  his  widow  passed  away  in  1864.  They  reared 
three  sons,  namely:  John,  Jr.,  Walter  D.  and  Robert.  John  Gunn,  Jr., 
was  born,  October  24,  1814,  in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  and  was  brought  up 
on  a farm,  and  in  1842  located  on  land  in  Lynn  township.  Making  the 
most  of  his  opportunities,  he  acquired  a practical  education,  becoming 
a surveyor  of  note.  He  purchased  land  at  different  times,  becoming 
owner  of  upwards  of  a thousand  acres.  He  was  a man  of  enterprise  and 
public  spirit,  among  the  foremost  in  promoting  improvements,  assisting 
in  the  establishment  of  schools  and  churches,  and  was  a strong  advocate 
of  good  roads.  He  died  July  22,  1876.  He  married,  in  1844,  Emily 
Garrett,  a daughter  of  Tirey  Garrett,  of  whom  a sketch  may  be  found 
on  another  page  of  this  volume.  She  died  January  16,  1905.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Lawrence  are  the  parents  of  three  children,  namely:  John  M..  who 
married  Mabel  Ewing  and  has  one  child,  Joseph  H. ; J.  William ; and 
Frances  A. 

Robert  L.  Miller. — In  the  front  rank  of  the  class  of  men  who  have 
been  actively  associated  with  the  financial  movements  of  various  parts  of 
the  Union  is  Robert  L.  Miller,  of  Kenton,  a man  of  superior  business 
talent,  judgment  and  tact.  In  his  judicious  operations  he  has  accumu- 
lated much  wealth,  and  is  now  living  retired  from  business  cares  in 
Buck  township,  Hardin  county,  occupying  his  magnificent  country  seat, 
a farm  of  one  hundred  acres.  A son  of  William  Miller,  he  was  born, 
October  15,  1853,  at  Catasauqua,  Lehigh  county,  Pennsylvania. 

A native  of  Ireland,  William  Miller  was  born  in  Coleraine,  County 
Londonderry,  and  when  a small  child  was  left  an  orphan.  When  nine 
years  old  he  came  to  the  United  States  to  make  his  home  with  a maternal 
uncle,  a Mr.  Leslie,  living  in  Mauch  Chunk,  Pennsylvania,  and  there  he 
grew  to  manhood,  receiving  in  the  meantime  excellent  educational  ad- 
vantages. Endowed  with  natural  ability,  he  embarked  in  early  man- 
hood in  mercantile  pursuits,  but  in  common  with  those  of  much  greater 
experience  suffered  severe  losses  during  the  panic  of  1857.  He  subse- 
quently became  a railroad  builder,  and  took  contracts  to  build  several 
hundred  miles  of  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad,  both  on  the  plains  and  in 
the  mountains.  He  subsequently  purchased  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  land  in  Benton  county,  Iowa,  and  superintended  its  management, 
living  in  the  meantime  in  Yinton,  the  county  seat,  until  his  death, 
December  17,  1872.  He  married  Mary  McKee,  who  was  born  in 
Dutchess  county,  New  York,  where  her  father,  Thomas  McKee,  who 
emigrated  from  Ireland  to  this  country  when  young,  was  for  many  years 
an  Indian  trader.  She  died  December  8,  1881,  leaving  three  children, 
namely : Robert  L. ; Mrs.  Belle  Parker,  of  Los  Angeles,  California  ; 

and  Bertha.  Bertha  married  George  Scoville,  and  died  in  Iowa, 
leaving  two  children.  Both  parents  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
church. 


732 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Robert  L.  Miller  went  west  with  his  father,  and  at  Ogden,  Utah,  on 
May  10,  1869,  witnessed  the  driving  of  the  golden  spike  into  the  last  tie 
that  united  the  Central  Pacific  and  the  Union  Pacific  railways.  Coming 
to  Kenton  in  1873,  he  clerked  in  a bank  a year,  and  then  made  a trip 
abroad,  visiting  many  of  the  larger  cities  of  Europe.  Returning  to 
Kenton,  Mr.  Miller  was  for  a number  of  years  extensively  engaged  in 
banking  and  real  estate  business.  In  1885  he  was  appointed  chief  of 
loans  and  currency  division  of  the  treasury  department  at  Washington, 
D.  C.,  where  he  remained  four  years.  Going  from  there  to  Saint  Paid, 
Minnesota,  Mr.  Miller  was  there  engaged  in  banking  several  years,  and 
afterwards  operated  successfully  in  stocks  in  Chicago,  his  home  in  the 
meantime  being  in  that  beautiful  suburb  of  the  city,  Evanston.  Leaving 
there  he  resided  in  Toledo,  Ohio,  until  1907,  when  he  assumed  possession 
of  the  farm  which  he  purchased  in  1895,  it  being  beautifully  located 
three  miles  south  of  the  Kenton  courthouse. 

Mr.  Miller  has  been  twice  married.  He  married  first,  when  in  his 
twenty-first  year,  Achsa  Stevens,  who  was  born  in  Kenton,  a daughter  of 
Julius  and  Anne  (Burnham)  Stevens.  She  died  in  1905.  Mr.  Miller 
married  second  in  1906,  Mrs.  Mary  J.  (Smith)  Stubbs.  She  was  born 
in  Warren  county,  Ohio,  a daughter  of  Thomas  and  Eleanor  (Bowyer) 
Smith,  who  are  still  living  on  their  home  farm  in  that  county.  Her 
first  husband,  Horace  Stubbs,  a life  long  resident  of  Warren  county, 
died  at  a comparatively  early  age,  leaving  one  son,  George  Wilbur 
Stubbs.  Mr.  Miller  has  an  adopted  daughter,  Mary,  to  whom  he  is 
devoting  as  much  care  and  attention  as  though  she  were  in  reality  his 
own  child. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Miller  was  identified  with  the  Democratic 
party  until  1906,  when  he  became  a stanch  advocate  of  sound  money  and 
has  since  voted  the  Republican  ticket.  Religiously  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Miller  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Fraternally 
he  belongs  to  the  Wolf  Creek  Grange,  and  takes  great  interest  in  pro- 
moting the  welfare  of  the  organization,  believing  it  can  be  made  an 
instrument  of  much  good  to  its  members.  Although  Mr.  Miller  has 
ever  been  a busy  man,  he  has  been  a constant  reader,  keeping  himself 
well  informed  on  the  topics  of  the  day,  and  in  consequence  has  been 
uniformly  successful  in  his  undertakings,  even  in  his  battles  with  the 
stock  market.  Mr.  Miller’s  country  home  is  one  of  the  finest  in  Hardin 
county  and  the  admiration  of  city  people,  Avho  envy  him  its  possession. 
The  commodious  frame  house,  built  in  modern  style  and  containing  all 
of  the  up-to-date  improvements  for  heating  and  illuminating,  stands  in 
the  midst  of  a spacious  lawn,  which  is  ornamented  with  a great  variety 
of  trees  and  shrubs,  the  estate  being  an  ornament  to  the  community  and 
one  in  which  he  and  his  fellow  townsmen  may  take  a just  pride. 

George  W.  Overtly. — Standing  high  among  the  industrious  and  bus- 
iness-like farmers  who  are  so  successfully  conducting  the  agricultural 
interests  of  Hardin  county  is  George  W.  Overly,  of  Buck  township,  who 
represents  the  younger  generation  of  the  Ohio  husbandmen.  He  was 
born,  January  16,  1867,  in  Wabash  county,  Indiana,  which  was  also  the 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


733 


birthplace  of  his  father,  Samuel  W.  Overly.  His  grandfather,  Daniel 
Overly,  a native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  of  German  ancestors,  became  a 
pioneer  settler  of  Wabash  county,  Indiana.  Entering  a tract  of  tim- 
bered land  from  the  government,  he  redeemed  a good  farm  from  the 
forest  and  while  establishing  a home  for  himself  and  family  contributing 
his  full  share  toward  the  growth  and  development  of  that  part  of  the 
state.  There  he  and  his  wife  spent  their  remaining  years.  Daniel 
Overly  was  eighty-six  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

Developing  into  manhood  on  the  Indiana  homestead,  Samuel  W. 
Overly  assisted  his  father  in  the  strenuous  labor  of  clearing  the  land,  and 
was  engaged  in  farming  in  that  locality  until  1873.  Migrating  then  to 
Pettis  county,  Missouri,  he  located  fifteen  miles  south  of  Sedalia,  and 
there  continued  his  chosen  occupation  three  years.  Coming  thefl  to 
Ohio,  he  spent  a year  in  Champaign  county,  after  which  he  rented  a 
farm  three  miles  west  of  Kenton,  in  Hardin  county,  where  he  lived  a 
number  of  years.  Coming  then  to  Buck  township,  he  was  here  employed 
in  tilling  the  soil  until  1908,  when  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Ridgeway, 
where  he  now  lives,  retired  from  active  pursuits.  He  married  Eveline 
Ash,  who  was  born  in  Indiana,  and  was  there  bred  and  educated.  She 
died  in  1894,  leaving  eight  children,  namely : George  W.,  Elda,  Charles 
T.,  Elinor,  Stella,  John,  Edith  and  Ada. 

Ten  years  old  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Hardin  county, 
George  W.  Overly  received  a practical  education  in  the  district  schools, 
while  at  home  he  Avas  well  trained  in  agricultural  arts.  In  early  man- 
hood he  began  his  agricultural  career  on  rented  land  and  met  with  very 
encouraging  success  from  the  start.  In  1897  Mr.  Overly  purchased  his 
present  farm  in  Buck  township,  and  is  here  carrying  on  general  farming 
Avith  satisfactory  results,  displaying  excellent  judgment  in  his  operations. 

Mr.  Overly  married,  in  1892,  Iva  M.  Scott,  Avho  was  born  in  Ohio,  a 
daughter  of  William  Scott,  a Hardin  county  farmer.  Three  children 
have  been  born  of  their  union,  namely:  Ethel  Mary,  Lloyd  E.  and 

Leota  May.  Mr.  Overly  belongs  to  Wolf  Creek  Grange  and  to  Scioto 
Camp,  M.W.  A. 

Samuel  A.  McCullough,  one  of  the  most  enterprising,  useful  and 
prosperous  citizens  of  Hardin  county,  conducts  a fine  farm  of  four  hun- 
dred acres  on  Mt.  Victory  pike.  Buck  township,  t,Avo  and  a half  miles 
from  the  courthouse.  He  purchased  the  modern  place  he  now  occupies 
in  1907  and  is  therefore  a new  settler.  Mr.  McCullough’s  long  and 
noteworthy  career  as  an  educator  and  a broad-gauge  farmer  was  made 
chiefly  in  Fairfield  and  Van  Wert  counties,  Ohio,  the  grandfather, 
William,  having  established  the  family  in  the  former  county  in  1806. 
The  ancestor  named  came  from  Ireland,  which  was  his  native  country. 
As  his  parents  crossed  over  into  Scotland  Avhen  he  was  very  young  he 
made  his  home  with  an  uncle ; but  it  is  supposed  that  both  his  father  and 
mother  perished  of  the  plague  which  Avas  raging  at  that  time.  At  all 
events,  all  tidings  of  them  Avere  lost,  and  at  the  age  of  nineteen  the  youth 
crossed  the  ocean  to  America,  first  residing  in  Pennsylvania.  In  1806 
he  took  up  land  in  Fairfield  county,  Ohio,  Avhere  he  died  at  the  age  of 
Vol.  11—19 


734 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


ninety -seven.  William,  his  son  (father  of  Samuel  A.),  was  born  in  that 
county,  and  when  he  had  reached  manhood  moved  across  the  line  into 
Perry  county,  where  he  purchased  a quarter  section  for  seven  hundred 
dollars.  Coal  was  discovered  on  his  land,  but  as  he  did  not  wish  to  work 
the  deposits  he  sold  the  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  four  years  after 
their  purchase  for  five  thousand  dollars.  He  then  returned  to  Pair- 
field  county,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years.  William 
McCullough  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Nixon,  born  in  Virginia,  daughter 
of  John  and  Rebecca  (Holt)  Nixon,  both  born  in  England.  The  father 
came  to  Virginia  in  his  early  boyhood  and  one  of  his  sons,  George,  served 
in  the  Revolutionary  war.  The  Nixons  generally  remained  in  the 
south  and  its  male  representatives  served  in  the  Confederate  army ; the 
McCulloughs  were  distributed  in  various  sections  of  the  country,  some 
being  soldiers  of  the  Union  and  others  of  the  southern  army.  Twelve 
children  were  born  to  William  and  Elizabeth  (Nixon)  McCullough,  of 
whom  nine  reached  maturity  and  Samuel  A.  was  the  fourth. 

Samuel  A.  McCullough  was  born  in  Perry  county,  Ohio,  March  27, 
1847,  being  eight  years  of  age  when  his  parents  moved  to  Fairfield 
county.  Although  his  education  was  confined  to  his  training  in  the 
district  school  he  so  proved  his  adaptability  to  teaching  that  for  twenty- 
nine  years  he  continued  his  educational  work  during  the  winter  terms, 
giving  his  summers  to  farming.  Then  for  two  years  he  gave  his  entire 
time  to  teaching  at  Bloomfield,  Iowa,  but  in  1892  located  on  a farm  in 
Hoglin  township,  Van  Wert  county,  and  since  that  year  has  made 
agriculture  the  main  purpose  of  his  life  work.  For  several  years  of 
his  early  residence  in  that  county  he  was  identified  with  the  Gilliland 
and  Little  farms,  after  which  he  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  in  Tully  township,  and  for  nearly  twenty  years  made  a specialty  of 
harvesting  hay,  his  season’s  product  ranging  from  one  hundred  and  fifty 
to  two  hundred  tons.  He  also  raised  various  grains  and  live  stock ; 
so  that  “Grand  View”  farm  became  noted  as  much  for  its  varied  pro- 
ductiveness as  for  its  elevated  and  beautiful  location.  Mr.  McCullough 
purchased  the  land,  in  1898,  at  thirty-seven  dollars  and  fifty  cents  an 
acre,  and  sold  it  in  1906  at  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars  an  acre — 
a somewhat  remarkable  advance  in  price  caused  by  the  fine  improvements 
which  the  proprietor  had  put  upon  the  place,  by  the  general  rise  in  the 
desirable  lands  of  the  locality,  and  the  improvement  made  by  the  Lima 
and  Fort  Wayne  Electric  Railroad.  As  stated,  in  1907  Mr.  McCullough 
located  on  the  fine  homestead  he  now  occupies  in  Buck  township. 

In  1874  Mr.  McCullough  married  Miss  Anna  Jane  Wright,  who  was 
born  in  Fairfield  county,  daughter  of  William  and  Betsy  (Hansacker) 
Wright.  Her  father,  an  extensive  livestock  dealer,  is  also  a native  of 
Fairfield  county.  Her  maternal  grandfather,  Jacob  Hansacker,  was  a 
native  of  Virginia,  was  captured  by  Indians  when  a boy  and  held  for 
twenty-five  years ; so  that  when  recovered  by  his  relatives  he  was,  in 
appearance  and  nature,  an  Indian  himself.  His  daughter,  the  mother 
of  Mrs.  McCullough,  migrated  from  Virginia  to  Fairfield  county.  Four 
children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel  A.  McCullough — Isaac 
W.,  Kate,  Benjamin  F.  and  William  A.  The  son  last  named  is  follow- 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


735 


ing  in  his  father’s  footsteps  as  a teacher,  his  efficient  work  having  been 
conducted  both  in  Van  Wert  and  Hardin  counties.  He  is  now  teaching 
in  Dudley  township.  Mr.  McCullough’s  preparation  for  his  profession 
has  been  of  the  most  thorough  nature.  He  first  exhausted  the  facilities 
of  the  district  school,  then  completed  a course  at  the  Conroy  high  school, 
and  has  been  a faithful  student  at  the  Lima  College  and  the  Northern 
Ohio  University  at  Ada. 

William  L.  Garrett. — Noteworthy  among  the  active  and  valued 
citizens  of  Hardin  county  is  William  L.  Garrett,  a well-known  farmer 
whose  home  is  pleasantly  located  on  Mt.  Victory  pike,  two  miles  south  of 
the  city  of  Kenton.  A son  of  Tiry  Garrett,  he  was  born,  January  1, 
1844,  in  Pleasant  township,  this  county.  His  grandfather,  William 
Garrett,  a Virginian  by  birth  and  breeding,  was  a pioneer  settler  of 
Highland  county,  Ohio.  Taking  up  a tract  of  wild  land,  he  cleared  a 
homestead  and  there  resided  until  his  death  in  1825,  when  but  fifty-two 
years  of  age.  His  body  was  buried  in  the  old  Pope  cemetery  near 
Centerfield.  One  of  a family  of  fourteen  children,  Tiry  Garrett  was 
born  in  Virginia  on  the  4th  of  April,  1802,  and  there  acquired  his  early 
knowledge  of  books.  Coming  with  the  family  to  Ohio,  he  first  assisted 
his  father,  but  after  his  marriage  moved  to  Wyandot  county,  where  he 
was  a pioneer  farmer.  Coming  from  there  to  Hardin  county  in  1841, 
he  bought  a tract  of  timbered  land  that  is  now  owned  by  the  county,  it 
being  the  present  site  of  the  Hardin  County  Infirmary.  The  small 
cabin  which  he  built  of  round  logs  had  a riveted  board  roof,  a split 
puncheon  floor,  an  earth  and  stick  chimney,  with  a huge  fireplace,  before 
which  his  young  wife  did  all  of  her  cooking.  WTild  beasts  of  all  kinds 
roamed  through  the  forests,  and  Sandusky,  many  miles  away,  was  the 
nearest  milling  and  marketing  point.  Devoting  his  time  to  clearing 
and  improving  a farm,  he  resided  there,  an  active  and  industrious 
farmer,  the  remainder  of  his  life,  passing  away  August  31,  1845. 

Tiry  Garrett  was  twice  married.  He  married  first  Eliza  White, 
who  died  in  Sandusky,  Ohio,  February  27,  1833,  just  eight  years  after 
their  marriage,  which  was  celebrated  in  February,  1825.  By  this 
union  two  children  were  born,  Emily  and  Rebecca.  He  married  for  his 
second  wife  Mahala  Nessel,  who  was  born  in  Pike  county,  Ohio,  where 
her  father,  George  Nessel.  was  a pioneer  settler.  He  was  born  in  Ger- 
many and  came  to  Ohio  with  his  parents  at  the  age  of  three  years.  He 
married  Priscilla  Pearl,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  spent  their  closing 
years  on  their  homestead  in  Ross  county,  and  were  buried  in  the  family 
lot  on  their  home  farm.  Mrs.  Mahala  (Nessel)  Garrett  survived  her 
first  husband,  and  married  James  Keith.  She  died  in  1893,  aged  seven- 
ty-seven years.  Of  her  union  with  Tiry  Garrett  five  children  were 
born:  Mary  Ann,  who  died  in  infancy;  George  II.,  who  was  killed  in 

the  Civil  war;  Charles  C.,  living  at  Ada,  Ohio;  our  subject,  William  L. ; 
and  Blona,  who  died  in  infancy.  By  her  marriage  with  Mr.  Keith  she 
had  four  children,  Silas,  Sarah  M.,  Laura  and  John. 

Receiving  his  elementary  education  in  the  typical  pioneer  log  school- 
house,  William  L.  Garrett  was  initiated  into  the  mysteries  of  agriculture 


736 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


when  young,  and  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years  became  self-supporting, 
finding  employment  on  a farm,  and  receiving  as  wages  two  dollars  a 
month.  As  his  services  grew  in  value,  his  wages  were  increased,  finally 
reaching  the  sum  of  twenty  dollars  a month.  Going  to  the  territory  of 
Kansas  in  1858,  Mr.  Garrett  located  in  Wyandot  county,  near  Kansas 
City,  where  the  settlers  were  few  in  number  and  border  troubles  were 
rife.  He  remained  there,  working  as  a farm  hand,  until  1861.  At  that 
time  the  stars  and  stripes  and  the  Confederate  flags  were  both  flying  at 
conspicuous  points. 

Returning  by  boat  to  his  home  in  May,  1861,  Mr.  Garrett  was  busily 
employed  until  the  following  September,  when  he  enlisted  in  Company 
G,  Thirty- third  Ohio  Veteran  Volunteer  Infantry,  with  which  he  went 
south,  his  regiment  being  attached  to  the  Foiu’teenth  Army  Corps,  com- 
manded by  General  Thomas.  He  was  with  the  corps  in  its  marches, 
campaigns  and  battles,  among  the  more  important  engagements  having 
been  those  at  Perry ville,  Stone  River,  Hoover’s  Gap,  Chickamauga,  the 
battle  above  the  clouds,  at  Lookout  Mountain,  Missionary  Ridge,  and  was 
with  Sherman  in  the  Atlanta  campaign,  participating  in  the  battles  en 
route  and  in  the  siege  and  capture  of  the  city.  He  subsequently  con- 
tinued with  his  gallant  commander  to  the  sea,  thence  through  the  Caro- 
linas  and  Virginia  to  Washington,  where  he  took  part  in  the  Grand 
Review.  Receiving  his  honorable  discharge  July  9,  1865,  Mr.  Garrett 
returned  to  Hardin  county,  and  resumed  farming.  At  the  time  of  his 
marriage  he  bought  a partly  improved  farm  in  McDonald  township, 
resided  there  four  years  and  then  sold  out.  Purchasing  then  a timber 
tract  in  Taylor  Creek  township,  he  built  a house  and  barn,  placed  the 
land  in  a high  state  of  cultivation,  and  made  many  improvements  of 
value  during  the  thirty  years  that  he  occupied  it.  He  then  sold  and 
bought  his  present  attractive  home  on  Mt.  Victory  pike. 

Mr.  Garrett  married,  in  1868,  Sarah  Jeffers,  who  was  born  in 
Logan  county,  Ohio,  a daughter  of  John  and  Catherine  Jeffers.  She 
died  July  31,  1908.  Politically  a Democrat,  Mr.  Garrett  served  one 
term  as  justice  of  the  peace.  Fraternally  he  is  a member  of  W.  W. 
Simpson  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Belle  Center. 


John  Gerlach. — The  representative  of  one  of  the  early  pioneer 
families  of  Hardin  county,  a brave  soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  and  an 
esteemed  and  respected  resident  of  Kenton,  John  Gerlach  is  one  of  the 
oldest  native  born  citizens  of  this  place,  his  birth  having  occurred  here 
August  1,  1840.  He  comes  of  German  ancestry,  his  father,  Ulrich 
Gerlach,  having  been  born  at  Elm  Kreis,  Hesse-Cassel,  Germany,  Janu- 
ary 21,  1812.  Three  of  his  brothers,  John,  Christopher  and  Gottfried, 
emigrated  when  young  to  America,  while  his  older  brother,  Adam,  in- 
herited the  family  estate  and  remained  in  the  Fatherland.  John  settled 
at  Pickaway,  Miami  county,  Ohio,  and  the  other  two  located  in  Pleasant 
township,  Hardin  county. 

When  a young  lad  Ulrich  Gerlach  began  learning  the  trade  of  a 
harness  and  saddle  maker,  and  after  completing  his  apprenticeship 
traveled,  as  was  then  the  custom,  working  for  brief  periods  in  different 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


737 


localities,  in  each  place  securing  a certificate  for  skillful  workmanship 
and  good  character.  About  1834  he  started  for  America,  being  sixty 
days  in  crossing  the  ocean  on  a sailing  vessel.  He  landed  in  Baltimore, 
a stranger  in  a foreign  land,  his  only  capital  being  good  health,  willing 
hands  and  a large  supply  of  courage  and  ambition.  Starting  on  foot 
for  the  west,  he  made  his  way  to  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania,  stopping 
occasionally  on  the  route  to  work  at  his  trade.  He  resided  for  awhile 
in  Pittsburg,  and  then  pushed  on  to  Mansfield,  Ohio.  In  1837  he  visited 
Kenton  for  a few  days,  and  then  went  back  to  Mansfield.  In  1838  he 
returned  to  Kenton,  which  at  that  time  was  but  a small  village  and  the 
surrounding  country  a pathless  wilderness,  which  has  since  given  way 
before  the  axe  of  the  pioneer,  developing  into  thriving  villages,  populous 
towns  and  productive  agricultural  communities,  the  Indian  trails  of 
those  days  being  now  well  graded  public  highways.  Ulrich  Gerlach 
bought  a tract  of  land  in  a block  on  North  Main  street,  including  a space 
now  included  in  four  city  lots,  and  there  established  the  first  harness 
shop  in  Hardin  county.  He  traded  a harness  for  one  half  of  this  land, 
and  for  the  other  half  paid  thirty-four  dollars  in  cash.  He  subse- 
quently sold  the  whole  tract  for  five  thousand  dollars,  and  then  purchased 
a farm  east  of  Kenton,  but  did  not  at  once  move  onto  it.  He  continued 
in  business  in  Kenton  for  awhile  longer,  being  first  located  at  the  east 
corner  of  the  block  north  of  the  courthouse,  and  later  east  of  the  square. 
Removing  to  his  farm  about  1867,  he  resided  there  until  his  death,  in  the 
eighty-fourth  year  of  his  age.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Mary 
Pfeiffer,  was  born  in  Hesse-Cassel,  Germany,  a daughter  of  John  and 
Elizabeth  Pfeiffer,  pioneers  of  Hardin  county.  She  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy-eight  years,  leaving  six  children,  John,  George,  Adam,  Christo- 
pher, William  and  Elizabeth. 

Beginning  as  a boy  to  learn  the  trade  of  a harness  maker,  John 
Gerlach  has  followed  it  during  his  entire  life.  Enlisting  in  May,  1864, 
in  Company  G,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-fifth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry, 
he  went  with  his  command  to  Virginia,  and  served  with  his  regiment 
until  the  expiration  of  his  term,  when  he  was  honorably  discharged  and 
returned  home. 

Mr.  Gerlach  married,  in  1862,  Mary  Jane  Balch,  who  was  born  in 
Madison,  Ohio,  September  25,  1843,  a daughter  of  Israel  Balch,  a native 
of  Boston,  Massachusetts.  As  a youth  Israel  Balch  followed  the  sea, 
but  in  early  manhood  came  to  Ohio,  locating  in  pioneer  days  in  Madison 
where  he  spent  his  remaining  years.  He  married  Sarah  S.  McDonald, 
who  was  born  in  Ross  county,  Ohio,  a daughter  of  William  and  Millie 
(Riley)  McDonald.  Millie  Riley  was  born  in  Essex  county,  Maryland, 
in  1791,  of  patriotic  ancestry,  her  mother  having  carried  messages  for 
the  Continental  soldiers  during  the  Revolutionary  war.  Millie’s  first 
husband,  Mr.  McDonald,  died  young,  and  she  subsequently  married  a 
Mr.  Roby.  She  came  to  Ohio  in  1804,  and  died  in  Kenton  September  29, 
1864. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gerlach  are  the  parents  of  eight  children,  namely: 
Anna,  Mary  E.,  Eva,  Sabina,  Sadie,  Ida,  Flo  and  Alfred  McDonald. 
Religiously  Mr.  Gerlach  is  a member  of  the  Evangelical  church.  Fra 


738 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


ternally  he  belongs  to  Cantwell  Post,  No.  97,  G.  A.  R.,  and  to  Amintia 
Lodge,  No.  79,  I.  O.  0.  F. 

Judge  Willis  AY.  Bowers,  who  was  elected  probate  judge  of  Hardin 
county  in  1908,  enjoys  the  reputation  of  being  one  of  the  best  county 
judges  in  this  section  of  Ohio.  He  is  accounted  a wise  and  impartial 
dispenser  of  justice  and  has  the  distinction  of  being  the  youngest  man 
ever  elected  to  the  office  of  probate  judge  in  Hardin  county.  He  was 
born,  February  22,  1874,  in  Fayette  county,  Pennsylvania,  a son  of 
George  D.  Bowers.  George  D.  Bowers  spent  the  early  part  of  his  life 
in  the  Keystone  state,  but  is  now  a resident  of  Missouri.  He  married 
Caroline  Hertzog,  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Susan  Hertzog  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. She  died  in  1890,  leaving  but  one  child,  AVillis  W.,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch. 

But  fourteen  years  old  when  his  mother  died,  Willis  AY.  Bowers  was 
subsequently  brought  up  by  his  paternal  grandparents,  Joseph  and 
Julia  Bowers.  He  received  good  educational  advantages,  attending 
first  the  public  schools,  then  the  State  Normal  School  at  California, 
Pennsylvania,  and  Hiram  College  in  Portage  county,  Ohio.  Coming 
to  Hardin  county  in  1895,  Mr.  Bowers  embarked  in  the  onion  industry, 
beginning  as  a grower  and  subsequently  becoming  a buyer  and  shipper, 
in  the  latter  industry  carrying  on  an  extensive  trade,  one  year  shipping 
three  hundred  cars.  A stanch  Democrat  in  politics,  he  was  his  party’s 
candidate  for  probate  judge  in  1908,  and  had  the  honor  of  being  elected 
in  a district  that  is  decidedly  Republican. 

Judge  W.  W.  Bowers  married,  July  8,  1896,  B.  Hazel  Hogan,  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  Hogan,  then  residents  of  Hardin  county, 
but  now  living  at  Redford,  Michigan.  Three  children  have  been 
born  of  their  union,  namely : John  F.,  Oliver  C.  and  George  J.  Fra- 
ternally the  Judge  stands  high  in  the  Masonic  fraternity,  belonging  to 
the  Blue  Lodge,  the  Chapter,  the  Council  and  the  Commandery.  He  is 
also  a member  of  Kenton  Lodge,  No.  157,  B.  P.  0.  E, ; also  a member  of 
Kenton  Council  No.  344,  of  the  United  Commercial  Travelers,  and  is  one 
of  the  charter  members  of  Scioto  Camp  No.  4101,  of  the  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America,  which  is  the  oldest  camp  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  in 
Hardin  county.  Religiously  he  belongs  to  the  Church  of  Christ,  of 
which  he  and  his  family  are  regular  attendants. 

Charles  Augustus  Stevenson. — A skillful  and  progressive  farmer, 
thoroughly  conversant  with  the  occupation  in  which  he  is  engaged, 
Charles  Augustus  Stevenson  materially  assists  in  maintaining  the  repu- 
tation of  Hardin  county  as  a superior  agricultural  region,  his  well 
managed  ancf  fertile  farm  being  located  in  Buck  township.  He  was 
born,  January  5,  1853,  in  Orleans  county,  New  York,  a son  of  Silas 
Stevenson  and  grandson  of  James  Stevenson.  A native  of  Virginia, 
James  Stevenson  emigrated  to  Ohio  about  1820,  becoming  a pioneer 
settler  of  Champaign  county,  where  he  resided  seven  years.  In  1827 
he  traveled  northward,  locating  on  the  line  of  Logan  and  Hardin  coun- 
ties, where  he  carried  on  farming  until  1834.  Removing  then  to  Taylor 


WILLIS  W.  BOWERS 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


739 


Creek  township,  Hardin  county,  he  bought  wild  land,  and  from  the 
wilderness  hewed  a homestead,  on  which  he  resided  until  his  death, 
June  6,  1865.  He  married  Unity  New,  who  was  born  in  Virginia,  and 
died  in  Taylor  Creek  township  March  10,  1864.  They  were  the  parents 
of  twelve  children,  as  follows : Silas,  father  of  Charles  Augustus ; 

Robert;  Lace;  Jane;  Harriet;  William;  John;  Ephraim;  Margaret; 
Charles  A.,  of  whom  a sketch  may  be  found  on  another  page  of  this 
volume ; David  H. ; and  Louisa. 

Silas  Stevenson  was  born  in  October,  1822,  in  Champaign  county, 
Ohio,  and  was  reared  among  pioneer  scenes.  In  his  boyhood  days  deer, 
Avolves,  bears  and  other  beasts  of  the  forest  were  plentiful,  often  terror- 
izing the  scattering  settlers.  The  nearest  mill  was  many  miles  distant, 
and  there  were  no  convenient  markets,  the  people  subsisting  largely  on 
the  productions  of  the  soil.  When  a young  man  he  went  to  New  York 
state,  married,  and  lived  there  about  four  years.  Returning  to  Hardin 
county,  he  purchased  a tract  of  wild  land  in  1853,  in  Buck  township, 
built  a log  house,  and  immediately  began  the  herculean  task  of  redeeming 
a farm  from  the  wilderness.  Huge  trees  were  felled,  the  logs  were 
rolled  into  piles  and  burned,  thousands  of  dollars  worth  of  what  would 
now  be  good  lumber  being  thus  ruthlessly  destroyed.  Little  did  the  good 
people  of  those  times  dream  that  in  less  than  a century  the  conservation 
of  forests  would  become  a question  of  national  importance.  Silas 
Stevenson  soon  had  a part  of  his  land  in  a yielding  condition,  and  had 
added  to  his  homestead  excellent  improvements,  having  erected  a brick 
house,  a frame  barn,  and  other  necessary  buildings.  On  this  valuable 
estate  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  enjoying  all  the  comforts  of  a 
modern  home,  his  death  occurring  on  his  home  farm  in  July,  1900.  He 
married  Ruby  Tyler,  who  was  born  in  Orleans  county,  New  York, 
October  27,  1827,  and  died  on  the  home  farm  in  March,  1908.  She  was 
a daughter  of  John  II.  and  Salina  Tyler,  esteemed  residents  of  Orleans 
county.  Of  the  union  of  Silas  and  Ruby  Stevenson  nine  children  were 
born,  namely:  IJazen  J.,  Charles  A.,  Salina,  Horace,  William.  Laura, 

John,  Margaret  and  Frank. 

Early  becoming  acquainted  with  the  various  branches  of  agricul- 
ture Charles  A.  Stevenson  has  followed  farming  throughout  his  entire 
life,  with  the  exception  of  a few  months  spent  in  Lynn  township,  having- 
resided  in  Buck  township  since  coming  here,  an  infant,  in  his  mother’s 
arms.  In  1902  he  settled  on  the  Pike,  taking  possession  of  the  farm  he 
now  owns  and  occupies.  It  contains  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres  of 
rich  and  fertile  land,  well  adapted  to  the  raising  of  all  the  cereals  com- 
mon to  this  region,  and  is  well  improved  in  regard  to  both  buildings  and 
cultivation. 

In  1875  Mr.  Stevenson  was  united  in  marriage  with  Arrie  Newcomb, 
who  was  born  in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  in  1852,  a daughter  of  Clark  Lewis 
Newcomb,  and  granddaughter  of  Cromwell  and  Esther  (Lewis)  New- 
comb. From  a history  published  by  John  Bearse  Neweomh.  of  Elo-in. 
Illinois,  a handsome  volume  of  six  hundred  pages,  the  history  of  the 
Newcomb  family  of  America  is  given  from  1635  to  1874.  It  shows  that 
Clark  Lewis  Newcomb  was  a descendant  in  the  eighth  generation  from 


740 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


the  emigrant  ancestor,  Captain  Andrew  Newcomb,  a native  of  England, 
the  line  of  descent  being  as  follows : Captain  Andrew,  Andrew,  Simon, 
Hezekiah,  James,  James,  Cromwell  and  Clark  Lewis.  Cromwell  New- 
comb was  born  at  Stephentown,  Rensselaer  county,  New  York,  May  6, 
1790.  Coming  as  a pioneer  to  Ohio  in  1833,  he  settled  first  in  Knox 
county.  From  there  he  came  in  1852  to  Hardin  county,  and  on  the 
farm  that  he  bought  in  Pleasant  township  lived  his  remaining  days, 
passing  away  September  10,  1871.  Ills  wife  died  August  11,  1872. 
Clark  Lewis  Newcomb,  born  in  Livingston  county,  New  York,  August 
8,  1824,  was  young  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Ohio.  Reared  to 
agricultural  pursuits,  lie  spent  his  comparatively  brief  life  as  a farmer, 
dying  in  Pleasant  township  in  1858.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Sarah  Finerty,  was  born  in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  where  her  father, 
Samuel  Finerty,  was  a pioneer  settler.  She  died  in  1890,  leaving  two 
children  by  her  first  marriage,  Arrie,  now  Mrs.  Stevenson ; and  Rosa. 
Sarah  Finerty ’s  second  marriage  was  to  Mr.  T.  J.  Smith  and  to  this 
union  there  were  three  daughters:  May,  the  wife  of  Jacob  Stair;  Jessie, 
who  makes  her  home  now  with  Mrs.  Stevenson ; and  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
Samuel  Kumly.  Mr.  Stevenson  is  a Republican  in  politics,  and  both  he 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Clement  L.  Howey  is  one  of  the  highly  esteemed  and  successful 
citizens  of  Pleasant  township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  and  a practical  and 
progressive  farmer.  He  was  born  in  the  county,  in  Blanchard  township, 
August  3,  1864,  a son  of  James  and  Sarah  (Briggs)  Llowey,  the  former 
born  in  Pennsylvania,  in  1824,  and  the  latter  a native  of  England.  Mrs. 
llowey  came  to  the  United  States  with  her  parents  when  three  years  of 
age.  After  her  marriage  she  came  with  her  husband  to  Hardin  county, 
locating  in  Blanchard  township,  where  they  became  owners  of  a valuable 
farm.  James  IJowey  died  in  1905,  at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years,  and 
his  widow  survives  him  and  is  living  on  the  home  farm.  They  had 
children  as  follows:  Mary  E.,  Mrs.  J.  W.  Musgrave;  Rev.  Matthias  C., 
a minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  a member  of  the  Cen- 
tral Ohio  Conference;  John  R.,  a professional  music  teacher  who  resides 
in  Missouri;  Clement  L. ; Wm.  W. ; E.  E.,  deceased;  G.  W. ; and  one  who 
died  in  infancy. 

Clement  L.  Howey  was  reared  in  his  native  township  on  his  father’s 
farm  and  attended  the  country  schools.  Reared  to  farm  work,  when  old 
enough  he  began  working  for  others,  and  by  his  strict  attention  to  his 
duties  and  to  the  interests  of  his  employers  he  was  able  to  command  the 
highest  price  paid  for  that  kind  of  work.  He  gained  a reputation  for 
industry  and  thrift,  and  by  his  economy  and  good  business  judgment  has 
made  his  own  way  in  life,  so  that  he  now  owns  a productive  farm  and  a 
beautiful  home.  He  purchased  his  present  farm  of  seventy-five  acres  in 
1893,  and  has  since  resided  on  it,  becoming  well  known  in  the  community. 
He  is  a devout  and  consistent  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  which  he  served  as  treasurer  ten  years,  and  was  also  honored  by 
election  to  the  office  of  steward,  and  the  post  of  class  leader. 

On  July  28,  1887,  Mr.  Howey  married  Mary  M.  Kritzler,  by  whom 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


741 


he  had  one  daughter,  Alta  E.  Mrs.  Howey  died  September  4,  1898. 
He  married  on  March  27,  1900,  Sylphia  Finley,  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  two  children,  John  W.,  deceased,  and  Ruth  J.  Mrs.  Ilowey 
was  born  in  Bluffton,  Allen  county,  Ohio,  June  6,  1872. 

Henry  J.  Bloom,  a successful  and  practical  farmer  of  Pleasant 
township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Kenton,  Ohio,  in  1863,  and 
is  a son  of  Bernhard  and  Anna  K.  (Alt)  Bloom,  both  natives  of  Ger- 
many, the  former  born  June  14,  1831,  and  the  latter  February  21,  1837. 
Bernhard  Bloom  and  his  wife  emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  1851  and 
1856,  respectively,  and  the  father  was  six  and  the  mother  was  eight 
weeks  on  board  a sailing  vessel  in  crossing  the  ocean.  When  he  first 
came  to  America  he  worked  for  the  Big  Four  Railroad  Company.  He 
was  married  in  1857,  and  in  1866  bought  a farm  of  forty-seven  and  one- 
half  acres  in  Buck  township,  Hardin  county,  upon  which  he  lived  four- 
teen years.  In  1880  he  bought  a farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-one 
and  two-thirds  acres  in  Pleasant  township,  which  was  partly  improved 
and  which  lie  developed  into  a well  tilled  and  productive  farm.  He  and 
his  wife  have  now  retired  from  active  life,  and  still  reside  on  this  farm. 
They  are  the  parents  of  three  children,  namely:  William,  Mrs.  G. 

Cook  and  Henry  J. 

Henry  J.  Bloom  was  reared  on  a farm  and  received  his  education 
in  the  country  schools.  He  became  an  enterprising  farmer  and  is  a 
good  manager.  He  and  his  brother  conduct  the  farm  together ; it  is 
situated  about  three  miles  north  of  Kenton.  They  follow  general  farm- 
ing and  raise  some  stock.  They  carry  on  their  farm  along  scientific 
lines,  and  the  results  are  gratifying.  They  own  eighty  acres  in  this 
neighborhood  and  Henry  J.  also  owns  ten  acres  more  where  his  parents 
live.  He  married  Mrs.  Anna  Roby,  whose  maiden  name  was  Cook,  in 
1903 ; they  have  no  children.  Mr.  Edward  B.  Roby  died  August  4,  1901, 
the  father  of  Minnie  E.  and  Omer  R.  Roby.  Mr.  Bloom  is  well  known 
in  the  community  for  his  enterprise  and  thrift,  and  is  highly  respected 
by  all  who  have  the  pleasure  of  his  acquaintance.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Democrat.  The  family  are  members  of  the  St.  John  Evangelical  church 
of  Kenton  and  are  active  in  its  work,  especially  in  the  Sunday  school. 

George  W.  Darst. — An  honored  representative  of  the  native-born 
citizens  of  Hardin  county,  and  the  son  of  a pioneer  settler^  George  W. 
Darst,  now  living  retired  from  active  pursuits  at  Kenton,  has  been  an 
able  assistant  in  the  development  and  advancement  of  the  agricultural 
resources  of  this  fertile  region,  and  by  his  sagacity  and  foresight  has  at 
the  same  time  been  enabled  to  accumulate  a competency.  A son  of 
Rev.  Harrison  P.  Darst,  he  was  born,  February  8,  1840,  in  Washington 
township,  Hardin  county,  of  Virginian  stock. 

Born  May  8,  1818,  in  Woodstock,  Virginia,  Harrison  P.  Darst  spent 
his  early  years  in  his  native  state.  Left  an  orphan  when  a child,  he 
was  bound  out  to  a saddletree  maker,  who  kept  him  at  work  early  and 
late.  Becoming  discontented  with  his  lot  he  ran  away  and  was  fortun- 
ate enough  to  find  a home  with  a drover,  who  treated  him  most  kindly. 


742 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Subsequently  migrating  to  Ohio,  he  lived  for  a time  in  Pickaway  county, 
and  there  took  unto  himself  a wife.  Coming  to  Hardin  county  in  1837, 
he  entered  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  Washington  township, 
and  in  the  clearing  that  he  soon  made  built  from  round  logs  a small 
cabin,  into  which  he  moved  with  his  bride  before  the  chimney  was  made 
or  the  floor  laid.  The  land  roundabout  was  then  in  its  original  wildness, 
game  of  all  kinds  inhabiting  the  primeval  forest,  and  the  people  lived  in 
a most  primitive  manner.  For  some  time  he  was  the  only  man  that 
owned  a team,  and  when  he  went  to  mill,  the  nearest  one  being  at  West 
Liberty  in  Logan  county,  he  used  to  carry  three  or  four  of  his  neighbors. 
These  pioneers,  taking  bread  enough  to  last  during  the  four  days  con- 
sumed in  making  the  round  trip,  would  shoot  wild  game  and  cook  and 
camp  by  the  wayside.  When  he  was  away  on  one  of  these  trips  his  wife, 
who  was  left  alone  with  a young  babe,  retired  to  her  cot  in  a corner  of 
the  room.  She  was  subsequently  awakened  by  a strange  noise,  and  by 
the  dim  light  of  the  fire  saw  a bear  in  the  room  climbing  the  side  of  the 
cabin  for  a piece  of  meat  hanging  there.  On  securing  the  meat  he  left, 
much  to  the  relief  of  the  poor  woman.  Rev.  Harrison  P.  Darst  was  a 
man  of  sincere  religious  convictions,  and  became  a local  preacher  in  the 
Christian  church,  in  this  capacity  preaching  in  various  places,  at  the 
same  time  superintending  the  improvement  of  his  land.  In  1858  he 
visited  relatives  in  Virginia,  procured  some  family  papers  and  a few 
valuable  relics.  On  his  return  trip  he  made  the  unfortunate  mistake 
of  trying  to  ford  a river  when  the  water  was  too  high.  He  managed 
to  free  the  horses  from  the  wagon,  and  they  swam  ashore,  dragging  him 
along,  but  the  wagon  and  its  contents  were  lost.  He  died  on  the  home 
farm  on  October  31,  1860.  Although  a Democrat  until  1856,  he  was  a 
strong  anti-slavery  man,  and  his  home  became  a station  on  the  under- 
ground railway,  and  through  it  many  a poor  slave  passed  on  to  freedom. 

Rev.  Harrison  P.  Darst  married,  in  Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  Cather- 
ine Teegardin,  who  was  born  in  that  county  June  14,  1814,  a daughter  of 
William  Teegardin,  a Pennsylvania  German  who  became  a pioneer  of 
that  part  of  Ohio.  Serving  in  the  war  of  1812  William  Teegardin  was 
for  awhile  stationed  at  the  block  house  in  Upper  Sandusky.  He  was 
very  successful  as  an  agriculturist,  becoming  owner  of  extensive  tracts 
of  land  in  Sugar  Creek  township,  Allen  county,  and  gave  to  each  of  his 
eleven  children  valuable  property,  giving  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
land  to  each  of  seven  children,  while  to  the  other  four  he  gave  each  one 
a home  in  Pickaway  county.  He  died  at  the  venerable  age  of  eighty- 
four  years.  Mrs.  Catherine  (Teegardin)  Darst  died  February  19,  1901, 
leaving  five  children,  namely:  George  W.,  of  whom  we  write;  Sarah  E., 
wife  of  John  Clinger,  of  Upper  Sandusky;  John,  deceased,  lived  in 
Pacific  Grove,  California;  Rebecca,  wife  of  Eli  Kridler,  of  the  same 
place ; and  Maria  M.,  wife  of  W.  H.  Obenour,  also  of  Pacific  Grove. 

Educated  in  the  district  schools,  George  W.  Darst  was  brought  up 
on  the  home  farm,  the  management  of  which,  owing  to  the  ill  health  of 
his  father,  devolved  upon  him  when  he  was  a mere  youth.  In  Septem- 
ber, 1862,  he  enlisted  in  Company  'A,  Eighty-second  Ohio  Volunteer 
Infantry,  with  his  brother  John,  joining  his  command  at  Stafford  Court 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


743 


House,  Virginia,  and  he  remained  with  his  regiment  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  participating  in  many  important  engagements,  including  the  battle 
of  Gettysburg.  He  was  with  Sherman  on  the  march  to  the  sea,  up 
through  the  Carolinas,  and  after  the  Grand  Review  at  Washington,  D. 
C.,  was  honorably  discharged  from  the  service,  in  June,  1865.  His 
brother  went  through  with  him  and  died  at  Pacific  Grove,  California, 
June  7,  1909. 

Returning  then  to  the  parental  homestead,  Mr.  Darst  continued  its 
management  until  1878,  when  he  devoted  his  time  to  his  duties  as  a 
sheriff,  a position  to  which  he  was  elected  in  1877,  and  served  two  terms. 
He  was  subsequently  engaged  in  the  insurance  business  until  1891,  when 
he  was  appointed  by  Governor  McKinley  as  policeman  and  given  control 
of  the  Capitol  and  grounds  in  Columbus.  In  this  capacity  Mr.  Darst 
served  acceptably  six  years.  In  1897  he  returned  to  his  farm,  and  for 
ten  years  was  successfully  employed  in  agricultural  pursuits.  Selling 
out  in  1907,  he  has  since  lived  retired  in  Kenton. 

Mr.  Darst  married,  October  22,  1865,  Hannah  E.  Eulin,  who  was 
born  in  Washington  township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  on  the  21st  of 
August,  1844,  a daughter  of  John  P.  Eulin.  Her  great-grandfather, 
Benjamin  Eulin,  a Virginian,  was  a genuine  frontiersman,  and  a noted 
Indian  fighter,  rescuing  many  white  women  from  the  savages.  Being 
pursued  by  a band  of  redskins  on  one  of  his  raids,  he  jumped  off  a steep 
embankment  and  received  injuries  which  caused  his  death.  Mrs. 
Darst ’s  grandfather,  Benjamin  Eulin,-  born  in  Virginia,  followed  the 
march  of  civilization  westward,  located  first  in  Pennsylvania  and  from 
there  came  to  Ohio,  settling  among  the  pioneers  of  Columbus.  He 
subsequently  moved  to  Coshocton  county,  and  in  1830  drove  across  the 
country  with  his  family  to  Hancock  county.  In  1833  he  bought  govern- 
ment land  in  Hardin  county,  put  up  the  first  flour  mill  in  this  section  to 
be  operated  with  horse  power,  and  was  here  a resident  several  years.  He 
moved  from  here  to  Iowa,  and  there  spent  the  closing  years  of  his  life. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Elder. 

Born,  July  17,  1818,  in  Columbus,  Ohio,  John  P.  Eulin  began  life 
for  himself  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years,  taking  a contract  to  clear  ten 
acres  of  the  land  now  included  in  the  present  site  of  Dunkirk,  receiving- 
ten  dollars  an  acre  for  his  work.  He  was  later  variously  employed,  and 
when  he  had  accumulated  a sufficient  sum  he  bought  timbered  land  in 
Washington  township,  Hardin  county,  and  here  lived  until  1862.  He 
then  bought  a farm  in  Cessna  township,  where  he  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  life,  passing  away  March  1,  1887.  He  married,  in  1842,  Elizabeth 
Lynch,  who  was  born  in  Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  August  14,  1825,  a 
daughter  of  George  Lynch.  She  died  May  22,  1891,  leaving  three 
children,  namely:  Mrs.  Darst,  who  died  February  11,  1910;  Benjamin  P. 
Eulin;  and  Emma  E.,  who  died  October  11,  1867. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Darst  had  seven  children,  but  all  died  in  infancy 
except  A.  Frank  and  Otto  C.  A.  Frank  Darst,  who  received  a practical 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  Kenton,  is  now  living  in  Columbus, 
being  there  employed  in  the  trans'fer  department  in  the  Express  Com- 
pany’s office.  He  married  Gertrude  Schrader.  Otto  C.  Darst  attended 


744 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


the  Ohio  State  University  at  Columbus,  and  subsequently  made  a special 
study  of  architecture  under  the  tutorship  of  Mr.  Gilbert  in  New  York, 
and  of  Mr.  Granger  in  Chicago,  and  subsequently  studied  in  Europe. 
He  is  now  engaged  in  architectural  business  in  Columbus  and  is  fast 
forging  to  the  front  as  a leading  architect  of  that  city.  Mr.  Darst  has 
always  been  a Republican  in  politics,  and  a stanch  supporter  of  the 
principles  of  his  party.  In  his  official  life  he  performed  his  duties 
with  marked  ability  and  fidelity,  winning  the  approval  of  his  constituents. 
He  is  a member  of  Cantwell  Post,  No.  97,  G.  A.  R.,  and  was  in  December, 
1909,  elected  commander  of  his  Post,  which  he  helped  to  organize  in 
1883  and  of  which  he  is  a charter  member. 

Robert  H.  Mitchell. — The  late  Robert  PI.  Mitchell,  of  Kenton, 
Ohio,  was  an  able  and  highly  respected  business  man,  and  was  well 
known  in  the  community.  Mr.  Mitchell  was  born  in  Gloversville,  New 
York,  March  24,  1832,  and  was  a son  of  Peter  IT.  and  Catherine 
(Demarest)  Mitchell,  both  natives  of  the  state  of  New  York.  Peter  H. 
Mitchell  and  his  wife  moved  to  Wyandot  county,  Ohio,  where  they  lived 
a short  time,  after  which  they  removed  to  Missouri.  Mrs.  Mitchel  was 
taken  sick  and  died  about  1862,  after  which  Peter  II.  Mitchell  returned 
to  Ohio,  locating  in  Marseilles,  where  his  son,  Robert  H.,  was  then  living. 

Robert  PI.  Mitchell  spent  much  of  his  eary  life  working  in  mills, 
spending  a short  time  in  Kentucky  in  this  occupation.  At  the  time  of 
the  Civil  war  he  enlisted  for  a short  time  in  Company  G,  One  Hundred 
and  Forty-fourth  Infantry,  Ohio  National  Guard,  under  General  Lew 
Wallace.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  lived  for  a time  on  a farm  near 
Marseilles,  Ohio,  and  about  1868  he  moved  with  his  family  to  Kenton, 
Hardin  county,  where  he  bought  a woolen  mill,  and  he  conducted  the 
same  until  the  panic  of  1872,  when  he  failed  in  business  and  began 
working  as  commercial  traveler.  Mr.  Mitchell  spent  a number  of  years 
on  the  road  and  then  worked  in  the  office  of  the  house  he  had  represented, 
which  was  located  in  Columbus,  Ohio.  He  continued  in  this  position 
until  his  death,  December  11,  1902. 

Politically  Mr.  Mitchell  was  a Republican,  and  he  was  a member  of 
the  Masonic  order.  He  was  an  earnest  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  conscientious  and  honest  in  his  dealings  with  his  fellow  men,  and 
highly  regarded  by  his  associates.  He  was  a man  of  high  character, 
who  made  and  retained  the  friendship  of  many.  Mr.  Mitchell  married, 
in  1852,  Elizabeth  Terry,  daughter  of  Ethan  and  Barbara  (Heckathorn) 
Terry,  the  former  from  North  Carolina  and  the  latter  a native  of  Ohio. 
Ethan  Terry  was  a surveyor  and  served  a number  of  years  as  public 
surveyor  of  Wyandot  county ; after  removing  to  Hardin  county  he  was 
also  elected  surveyor  of  that  county,  and  he  surveyed  the  road  from 
Kenton  to  Marseilles. 

Mr.  Mitchell  and  his  wife  became  the  parents  of  two  children,  Isabel 
and  Terry,  the  latter  of  whom  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-five  years.  Isabel 
married  James  L.  Moore,  of  Kenton,  and  one  child  was  born  to  them, 
Charles.  Mrs.  Moore  died  while  her  child  was  a mere  infant,  and  her 
mother,  Mrs.  Mitchell,  took  the  child  and  reared  him.  He  was  educated 


. 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


745 


by  his  grandmother,  and  became  a credit  to  her  love  and  care.  He  is  a 
young  man  of  good  habits  and  high  character,  well  liked  wherever  known. 

Henry  J.  Myers. — Occupying  a prominent  position  among  the  more 
intelligent,  enterprising  and  active  agriculturists  of  Hardin  county  is 
Henry  J.  Myers,  whose  well-managed  and  highly  productive  farm  is 
finely  located  in  Buck  township.  He  has  the  distinction  of  being  a 
native  born  citizen,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  Pleasant  township 
September  7,  1853.  His  father.  Henry  Myers,  Jr.,  and  his  grandfather, 
Henry  Myers,  Sr.,  were  both  born  and  reared  in  Brunswick,  Germany. 

Henry  Myers,  Sr.,  followed  the  trade  of  a carpenter  in  the  Father- 
land  for  a number  of  years.  Emigrating  to  America  about  1846,  he 
settled  in  Kenton,  Ohio.  While  still  a resident  of  this  place  he  bought 
a tract  of  timbered  land  lying  south  of  the  town,  and  after  building  a 
substantial  log  house  on  the  place  moved  into  it  and  was  there  engaged 
in  clearing  and  improving  a homestead  during  the  remainder  of  his 
active  days,  dying  there  at  the  good  old  age  of  seventy- five  years  in  1864. 
He  reared  four  children,  Henry,  Christian,  Andrew  and  Hannah. 
Andrew  enlisted  as  a soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  and  lost  his  life  on  the  field 
of  battle. 

Born  in  Brunswick,  Germany,  in  April,  1819,  Henry  Myers,  Jr., 
was  there  brought  up  and  educated.  In  1845,  ambitious  to  try  his  luck 
in  a new  country,  he  came  across  the  ocean  to  the  United  States,  making 
his  way  directly  to  Kenton,  Ohio,  where  he  began  life  for  himself  even 
with  the  world.  He  labored  at  any  honest  employment  that  he  could 
find,  and  when  the  railway  was  in  process  of  construction  worked  on  that. 
In  the  fall  of  1854,  after  his  marriage,  he  took  possession  of  the  hewed 
log  house  which  his  father  had  built  in  the  wilderness  and  turned  his 
attention  to  clearing  the  land  and  tilling  the  soil.  He  subsequently 
succeeded  to  the  ownership  of  the  land,  and  continued  the  improvements 
already  inaugurated,  erecting  a frame  house  and  other  farm  buildings, 
and  was  there  successfully  employed  in  general  farming- until  his  death 
in  1897  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine  years.  Henry  Myers,  Jr.,  married,  in 
1850,  Mary  Kahler,  who  was  born  in  Hesse  Darmstadt,  Germany,  which 
was  also  the  birthplace  of  her  parents,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nicholas  Kahler. 
In  1848  Nicholas  Kahler,  with  his  wife  and  three  children,  set  sail  for 
America,  and  after  battling  for  nine  whole  weeks  with  the  turbulent 
waves  landed,  in  February,  in  New  York  city.  He  came  directly  to 
Kenton,  Ohio,  which  was  then  a small  place,  and  was  soon  actively  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  brick,  continuing  the  industry  a number  of 
years.  He  subsequently  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  in  or  near 
Kenton,  dying  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years.  His  wife  survived  him, 
attaining  the  venerable  age  of  eighty-seven  years.  His  son,  Conrad 
Kahler,  became  a farmer,  and  spent  his  last  years  in  Pleasant  township, 
Hardin  county.  Mrs.  Mary  (Kahler)  Myers  now  occupies  a pleasant 
home  on  South  Main  street,  Kenton,  where  she  is  living  in  comfort  and 
pleasure.  She  is  highly  respected  for  her  many  virtues,  and  is  a con- 
scientious member  of  the  Evangelical  clnirch,  and  has  reared  her  family 
in  the  same  religious  beliefs.  To  her  and  her  husband  nine  children 


746 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


were  born,  namely : Henry  J.,  William,  August,  Andrew,  Martha,  Mary, 
Elizabeth,  Augusta,  and  Emma,  and  all  are  living. 

Educated  in  the  district  schools,  Henry  J.  Myers  resided  beneath 
the  parental  roof  until  ready  to  start,  an  establishment  of  his  own,  when 
he  settled  in  Buck  township,  on  the  farm  which  he  now  owns  and  occu- 
pies. A log  house  on  the  place  and  a few  cleared  acres  constituted  the 
improvements  at  the  time  of  his  purchase.  With  the  resolute  spirit  and 
ambition  of  a sturdy  manhood,  he  continued  the  improvements,  and  has 
constantly  added  to  its  value  and  to  its  extent,  having  now  two  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  rich  and  fertile  land,  with  a commodious  frame 
house  and  a substantial  set  of  farm  buildings.  His  homestead  is  well 
stocked  with  horses,  cattle  and  sheep,  and  he  is  here  carrying  on  farming 
and  stock  raising  after  the  most  approved  modern  methods,  his  farm 
being  one  of  the  finest  and  most  desirable  in  the  vicinity. 

On  October  10,  1878,  Mr.  Myers  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mary 
Lintz,  who  was  born  in  Kenton,  where  her  parents,  Nicholas  and  Amelia 
Lintz,  located  as  pioneers  on  coming  to  this  country  from  Germany,  their 
native  land.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Myers  have  seven  children  living,  namely: 
Herman,  who  married  Fannie  Fulton,  has  one  son,  Nelson ; Edith ; Otto ; 
Minnie ; Frances ; Emma ; and  Florence.  All  are  at  home  attending 
school  and  helping  on  the  home  farm.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Myers  belong  to 
the  Evangelical  church,  being  among  its  most  faithful  members. 

William  Ruhlen. — Some  of  the  most  desirable  citizens  of  Kenton, 
Ohio,  are  men  who  have  spent  most  of  their  lives  in  hard  work  and  have 
retired  from  active  life  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  their  labors.  Among  these 
useful  citizens  is  William  Ruhlen,  who  was  born  in  Wurtemberg,  Ger- 
many, January  21,  1842,  a son  of  George  and  Dorothy  (Sattler)  Ruhlen, 
both  also  born  in  Wurtemberg.  About  1853  the  family  emigrated  to 
the  United  States  and  settled  on  a farm  near  New  California.  Here  Mr. 
Ruhlen  bought  ninety  acres  of  land,  of  which  about  thirty  acres  were 
cleared,  and  this  farm  also  contained  an  old  log  cabin.  They  put  this 
land  into  good  condition  and  later  added  land  until  they  had  one  hundred 
and  thirty  acres,  which  they  sold  after  a few  years  and  bought  a farm 
of  two  hundred  and  seventy  acres,  also  near  New  California,  where  Mr. 
Ruhlen  died  about  1878.  Later  this  farm  was  traded  for  a farm  near 
Pottersburg,  the  latter  containing  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres.  Here 
Mrs.  Ruhlen  spent  her  remaining  years,  passing  away  in  1888. 

When  sixteen  years  of  age  William  Ruhlen  began  working  on  a 
farm  near  Milford,  Ohio,  where  he  spent  two  years  and  then  enlisted  in 
Company  I,  Seventeenth  Ohio  Infantry,  being  discharged  at  Zanesville 
in  1861.  He  reenlisted  in  September  in  Company  K of  the  First  Ohio 
Cavalry,  and  served  with  this  regiment  three  years.  He  served  in  the 
battle  of  Missionary  Ridge  and  took  part  in  a skirmish  in  the  town  of 
Cleveland,  Tennessee,  when  the  ammunition  factory  was  blown  up  by 
the  Union  forces.  In  this  disaster  many  lost  their  lives,  two  who  were 
mortally  wounded  being  in  the  First  Cavalry.  One  of  these  men  was  a 
man  named  William  Johnson,  who  after  receiving  his  wound  was  held 
on  his  horse  by  Mr.  Ruhlen  (who  was  riding  at  his  side  at  the  time)  and 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


747 


taken  to  a place  of  safety.  Among  the  engagements  in  which  Mr. 
Ruhlen  participated  were  the  following : Booneville,  Mississippi ; Rus- 

sellville and  Courtland,  Alabama ; Bardstown  and  Perryville,  Kentucky ; 
Stone  River  (December  31,  1862  to  January  2,  1863)  and  Elk  River, 
Tennessee;  Alpine  and  Chickamauga,  Georgia;  Washington,  Tennessee; 
Paint  Rock,  Decatur  and  Moulton,  Alabama ; New  Day  Creek  and  Love- 
joy,  Georgia ; and  the  Atlanta  campaign.  Mr.  Ruhlen  was  also  engaged 
in  the  skirmish  at  Calhoun.  Tennessee,  in  which  one  hundred  and  sixty 
southern  soldiers  were  taken  prisoners  by  forty  Union  soldiers.  Mr. 
Ruhlen  was  discharged  in  October,  1864.  at  Columbia,  Tennessee,  and 
returning  home,  took  up  his  affairs  where  he  had  left  them.  He  was 
employed  on  the  same  farm  where  he  had  worked  before  the  war,  and 
continued  there  two  years. 

In  April,  1867,  Mr.  Ruhlen  married  Miss  Euphemia  Reed,  daughter 
of  James  Reed,  a resident  of  Union  county.  In  July  of  the  same  year 
they  moved  to  a farm  of  seventy-seven  acres  situated  in  Hardin  county, 
Lynn  township,  which  he  had  purchased.  This  was  all  timber  land,  so 
that  he  had  to  proceed  to  clear  same  for  cultivation.  He  erected  a small 
log  house  and  went  to  work  with  energy  to  put  his  land  into  a good  state 
of  cultivation,  adding  more  land  from  time  to  time  until  he  now  owns  a 
fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and  eighty  acres,  with  modern  improvements 
and  substantial  buildings.  He  is  a good  business  manager  and  very 
industrious,  so  that  he  made  the  most  of  his  land  and  was  considered 
very  successful  in  his  operations.  Mr.  Ruhlen  also  owned  a nice  farm  in 
Bedford  county,  Tennessee,  which  he  recently  turned  over  to  his  son. 
He  and  his  wife  became  the  parents  of  five  children,  all  of  whom  are 
living,  but  Mrs.  Ruhlen  died  September  26,  1879.  In  the  spring  of 
1908  Mr.  Ruhlen  retired,  renting  his  farm  to  a son  and  son-in-law,  and 
he  now  lives  in  the  substantial  home  he  has  purchased  on  East  Columbus 
street,  Kenton.  He  married  February  16.  1880,  Adelia  Reed,  daughter 
of  Samuel  L.  and  Margaret  F.  (Boal)  Reed,  and  six  children  were  born 
of  this  marriage. 

Mr.  Ruhlen  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in  public  affairs  and 
he  is  a Republican.  He  served  his  township  three  years  as  trustee.  He 
is  a member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  and  is  interested  in  every  good 
cause  tending  toward  the  betterment  or  progress  of  the  city  and  county. 

William  Carey,  deceased,  for  years  a prominent  merchant  and 
banker  of  Kenton,  Ohio,  settled  in  the  county  just  after  the  town  of 
Kenton  was  laid  out.  when  it  was  surrounded  by  timber.  He  was  a 
native  of  New  Jersey,  and  was  a son  of  Lewis  Carey,  who  came  to  Ohio 
among  the  early  settlers.  Lewis  Carey  brought  one  hundred  slaves 
with  him  from  New  Jersey,  all  of  them  belonging  to  him.  He  bought  a 
large  tract  of  land  near  Bucyrus  and  gave  it  to  them,  but  they  could  not 
make  a living  for  themselves  without  some  one  to  take  care  of  them,  so 
they  ran  away.  lie  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life  at  Bucyrus,  but 
died  in  Kenton,  Ohio. 

The  early  childhood  of  William  Carey  was  spent  in  New  Jersey;  he 
came  with  his  parents  to  Ohio,  and  in  an  early  day  came  to  Hardin 


748 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


county,  where  he  spent  a year  and  then  removed  to  Marseilles,  where  he 
married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Moses  and  Jane  (Patterson)  Dudley.  Moses 
Dudley  was  among  the  first  white  settlers  of  Hardin  comity,  Ohio,  and 
the  town  of  Kenton  was  not  laid  out  at  the  time.  He  helped  build 
the  first  road  through  Hardin  county  and  erected  the  first  jail  in  Kenton. 
He  purchased  one  hundred  acres  of  land  in  the  vicinity  of  Kenton  and 
improved  it,  later  selling  out.  He  bought  land  farther  down  the  river, 
where  he  lived  for  a number  of  years,  then  removed  to  Versailles,  Ohio, 
and  after  spending  a few  years  there  he  returned  to  Kenton  and  spent 
his  remaining  years  with  his  daughter. 

About  five  years  after  his  marriage  William  Carey  returned  to 
Kenton,  where  he  conducted  a general  store  for  several  years,  and  also 
became  the  pioneer  banker  of  Kenton,  establishing  the  Carey  Bank.  On 
account  of  ill  health,  however,  Mr.  Carey  retired  and  lived  only  about 
one  year  afterward.  He  was  a public-spirited  citizen,  and  interested  in 
every  movement  for  the  betterment  and  development  of  the  town.  He 
was  a Republican  after  the  establishment  of  that  party,  and  actively 
interested  in  public  affairs.  He  and  his  wife  were  parents  of  ten 
children,  of  whom  three  now  survive.  He  is  well  remembered  in  Kenton 
where  he  was  well  known  and  highly  esteemed. 

Albert  Dean. — One  of  the  pioneer  merchants  of  Kenton  was  Albert 
Dean,  deceased,  who  was  born  in  Stamford,  Connecticut,  March  5, 
1805.  Mr.  Dean  was  a son  of  Lebbius  and  Ruah  (Weed)  Dean,  who 
came  to  the  state  of  Ohio  before  the  construction  of  the  Erie  canal  and 
were  among  the  earliest  settlers.  Lebbius  Dean,  with  his  family  and 
possessions,  started  from  Connecticut  to  Ohio  in  December,  1821,  having 
a team  of  horses  and  a yoke  of  oxen.  Their  way  was  attended  by  many 
hardships  and  dangers ; in  many  places  they  had  literally  to  cut  their 
road  through  the  woods,  and  the  wild  animals  and  Indians  were  often 
annoying.  However,  by  spring  they  had  reached  Columbus,  where  they 
stopped  for  a time.  Afterward  Mr.  Dean  took  up  six  hundred  and 
forty  acres  of  land  from  the  government  in  Franklin  county.  He 
erected  a log  house  and  began  clearing  and  improving  his  farm,  so  that 
by  the  time  a few  years  had  passed  the  result  of  his  industry  was  very 
apparent  in  the  state  of  his  farm.  He  built  a comfortable  house  and 
other  suitable  buildings,  and  here  he  and  his  wife  spent  the  remainder 
of  their  days.  This  farm  has  passed  down  to  the  fourth  generation 
from  the  original  settler. 

The  boyhood  of  Albert  Dean  passed  as  that  of  other  sons  of  pioneers. 
His  educational  advantages  were  meager,  but  he  made  the  most  of  his 
opportunities  and  helped  with  the  work  of  the  farm  when  he  was  old 
enough.  About  1844  he  moved  to  Hardin  county  and  spent  a short 
time  on  a farm,  after  which  he  located  in  the  city  of  Kenton  and  em- 
barked in  the  dry  goods  business.  He  built  up  an  excellent  trade,  but 
later  sold  his  business  and  engaged  in  the  harness  industry  with  his 
brother.  Their  business  grew  to  fair  proportions  and  they  remained  in 
business  together  a number  of  years.  Albert  Dean  showed  his  business 
acumen  by  his  good  investments  in  real  estate,  and  some  of  the  property 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


749 


he  purchaed  in  Kenton  is  now  very  valuable.  Some  time  before  his 
death  he  sold  his  interest  in  the  harness  business  and  retired  from  active 
life.  Politically  he  was  a Republican,  and  he  belonged  to  the  Presby- 
terian church.  Mr.  Dean  became  well  known  and  highly  respected 
in  Kenton  and  the  surrounding  community,  and  was  considered  a 
substantial,  representative  citizen. 

About  1832  Albert  Dean  married  Miss  Jane  Dalzell,  daughter  of 
William  and  Elizabeth  (Laughlin)  Dalzell,  natives  of  Ireland.  Eight 
children  were  born  to  Mr.  Dean  and  his  wife,  of  whom  five  still  survive. 

Philip  H.  Hisey,  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  highly  respected  citizens 
of  Kenton,  is  a worthy  representative  of  those  courageous  pioneers  who 
came  to  Ohio  at  an  early  period  of  its  settlement  and  assisted  in  the 
development  of  its  varied  resources.  During  his  four  score  years  of 
residence  in  this  state  he  has  witnessed  wonderful  transformations.  In 
his  boyhood  days  neither  railways,  telegraph  or  telephone  line  spanned 
these  broad  acres,  few,  if  any,  evidences  of  civilization  were  then  in 
evidence ; while  now  flourishing  towns  and  cities  and  magnificent  agri- 
cultural regions  have  usurped  the  place  of  the  forest,  and  the  fertile 
acres  yield  abundantly  and  to  spare.  A native  of  Virginia,  Mr.  Hisey 
was  born,  December  31,  1826,  in  Monroe  county,  a son  of  John  Hisey. 

John  Hisey,  born  of  German  parents,  spent  his  last  years  in  Monroe 
county,  Virginia,  dying  in  early  life,  about  1827.  He  married  Priscilla 
Hutchison,  who  was  born,  probably,  in  Virginia,  and  at  his  death  left 
her  with  two  small  children,  a daughter  Martha  and  a son  Philip  H.,  who 
is  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  His  widow,  Mrs.  John  Hisey,  came  with 
her  two  young  children  to  Ohio  about  1829  and  settled  in  Lawrence 
county.  She  subsequently  there  married  Daniel  S.  Vermilion,  and  in 
1834,  in  November,  located  in  Linn  township,  Hardin  county,  on  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  which  had  been  given  to  Mr.  Vermilion 
by  his  father.  Cutting  away  trees  to  make  space  for  a dwelling,  Mr. 
Vermilion  erected  a cabin  of  small  round  logs,  with  a puncheon  floor, 
a stick  and  mud  chimney,  and  a roof  covered  with  split  boards.  Mrs. 
Vermilion  did  all  of  her  cooking  by  the  fireplace,  and  from  the  flax  and 
wool  raised  on  the  land  carded,  spun  and  wove  the  homespun  from 
■which  she  made  the  clothes  for  the  family.  Mr.  Vermilion  in  the 
meantime  made  the  shoes,  each  member  of  the  family  having  one  pair  a 
year.  With  the  assistance  of  his  step-son  and  his  own  sons  he  cleared 
one  hundred  acres  of  the  land  and  made  substantial  improvements  on  the 
place.  He  first  replaced  the  original  cabin  with  one  made  of  hewed 
logs,  and  later  built  a good  frame  house  and  two  large  barns.  He  set 
out  fruit  and  shade  trees,  starting  a fine  orchard  from  apple  tree  sprouts 
that,  he  brought  with  him  from  Lawrence  county  when  he  returned  from 
a visit  made  to  his  former  home  in  1836.  He  died  at  a ripe  old  age,  and 
his  wife  died  when  seventy-four  years  old.  By  her  second  marriage 
Mrs.  Vermilion  reared  ten  children. 

An  infant  when  his  father  died.  Philip  II.  Hisey  was  seven  years  old 
when  he  came  with  his  mother  and  step-father  to  Lynn  township.  He 
was  reared  among  pioneer  scenes,  and  remembers  well  when  Cherokee, 
Voi.  n — 20 


750 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Northwood  and  West  Liberty  were  the  only  milling  points  in  Logan 
county,  and  all  grain  grown  in  this  locality  had  to  be  taken  to  one  of 
those  places  to  be  ground,  while  the  farmers  of  this  vicinity  took  their 
surplus  produce  to  Sandusky,  where  he  had  his  first  glimpse  of  a railroad. 
The  log  schoolhouse  in  which  he  learned  to  read  and  write  was  furnished 
with  slab  seats,  with  wooden  pegs  for  legs,  no  desks  in  front,  while  a 
piece  of  glass  inserted  in  a space  cut  in  a log  admitted  a dim  light. 
Leaving  home  at  the  age  of  twenty-two,  Mr.  Hisey  borrowed  an  axe  and 
earned  bis  first  money  as  a wood  chopper  and  a farm  hand.  Industrious 
and  thrifty,  he  saved  his  wages,  and  subsequently  bought  a tract  of 
timber  land  in  Lynn  township.  Building  then  a nice  hewed  log  house, 
he  there  began  housekeeping  with  his  bride.  Selling  out  a short  time 
after  for  five  hundred  dollars  he  operated  a saw  mill  in  Jackson  township 
for  five  years.  In  1857,  in  company  with  Mr.  Edward  Clark,  he  embarked 
in  the  dry  goods  business  at  Patterson,  Hardin  county,  and  at  the  end  of 
a year  moved  to  Yelverton  and  later  bought  out  his  partner  and  removed 
to  Taylor  Creek  township,  where  he  continued  as  a merchant  for  some 
time,  carrying  a good  stock  of  general  merchandise.  Selling  out  in 
1884,  Mr.  Hisey  has  since  resided  in  Kenton.  During  the  time  that  has 
since  elapsed  he  has  bought  and  sold  several  farming  estates,  and  now 
owns  two  well  improved  and  valuable  farms,  one  in  Lynn  township  and 
one  in  Taylor  Creek  township,  from  the  rentals  of  which  he  receives  a 
handsome  annual  income. 

Mr.  Hisey  married,  in  1851,  Mary  E.  Piper,  who  was  born  in  New 
Hampshire,  a daughter  of  Amos  and  Elizabeth  Piper,  who  migrated 
from  that  state  to  Richland  county,  Ohio,  and  from  there  came,  in  1848, 
to  Hardin  county,  locating  in  what  is  now  Lynn  township.  Mrs.  Hisey 
passed  to  the  life  beyond  in  1907,  aged  seventy-four  years.  Three 
children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hisey,  namely:  May  E.,  who  died 
in  infancy;  Ira  and  Iva  Myrtle.  Ira  married  Jane  Fuls  and  they  have 
six  children,  Hattie,  Grace,  Esther,  Mabel,  Ruthie  and  Phyllis.  Iva 
M.  keeps  house  for  her  father.  Mr.  Hisey  has  one  great-grandchild, 
named  for  him,  Philip  H.  Ragan,  a son  of  Mrs.  Grace  Ragan,  of  Columbus 
Ohio.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hisey  united  with  the  Presbyterian  church 
when  young.  Politically  Mr.  Hisey  is  a Republican  and  has  voted  at 
every  presidential  election  since  casting  his  first  vote  for  General 
Zachary  Taylor. 

Daniel  W.  Rose. — Eminently  deserving  of  representation  in  this 
volume  is  Daniel  W.  Rose,  who  comes  of  pioneer  stock,  is  a veteran  of  the 
Civil  war  and  is  identified  with  the  interests  of  Kenton  as  a dealer  in 
real  estate.  A son  of  the  late  James  Rose,  he  was  born,  July  28,  1844, 
in  Delaware  township,  Hancock  county,  Ohio.  Ilis  grandfather,  James 
Rose,  Sr.,  was  born  and  brought  up  in  England.  When  a young  man 
he,  with  his  brothers,  Jesse  and  John,  emigrated  to  America,  locating 
first  on  Long  Island,  and  later  one  of  the  brothers  settled  in  the  Western 
Reserve.  The  grandfather,  too,  came  to  Ohio,  but  located  in  Hancock 
county,  having,  however,  first  spent  a short  time  in  Fairfield,  Greene 
county. 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


751 


James  Rose,  Jr.,  was  born  during  the  residence  of  his  parents  in 
Hancock,  Maryland,  and  with  them  crossed  the  country  to  Fairfield, 
Ohio,  where  as  a young  man  he  learned  the  trades  of  a carpenter  and 
cabinet  maker.  Early  in  the  ’30s  he  became  a pioneer  settler  of 
Hancock  county,  Ohio,  where,  two  miles  south  of  Mount  Blanchard,  he 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  government  land  and  soon  after  purchased 
eighty  acres  more  of  a Mr.  Ilarshbarger.  Beginning  at  once  the  es- 
tablishment of  a home  in  the  wilderness  by  erecting  a log  cabin,  he 
began  the  clearing  of  a homestead.  His  earnest  labors  were  rewarded, 
and  in  addition  to  redeeming  a good  farm  from  the  wild  land  he  rendered 
material  assistance  in  the  development  and  advancement  of  the  locality, 
living  there  until  his  death,  in  May,  1868.  He  married  Sarah  Spurgeon. 
Ten  children  were  born  of  their  union,  namely : Keziali,  Emily,  Thomas 
J.,  Caroline,  David,  Martha,  Elias,  Eli,  Daniel  W.,  and  Lorenzo  D.  W. 

The  typical  pioneer  sehoolhouse  in  which  Daniel  W.  Rose  obtained 
his  early  education  was  built  of  logs,  with  puncheon  floors,  slab  benches 
with  wooden  pins  inserted  for  legs,  while  a plank  placed  along  one  side 
of  the  room  furnished  a place  upon  which  the  older  pupils  learned  to 
use  the  quill  pen.  When  not  in  school  he  assisted  his  father  in  the 
daily  work  of  the  farm,  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years  joined  the 
State  Militia.  On  April  2,  1864,  Mr.  Rose  was  sworn  into  the  United 
States  service  for  a period  of  one  hundred  days  as  a member  of  Company 
A,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-third  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry.  Going 
south  he  joined  General  Butler’s  command,  and  served  with  his  regiment 
in  all  of  its  marches  and  campaigns  until  the  expiration  of  his  term, 
when  he  received  his  honorable  discharge.  On  February  6.  1865,  Mr. 
Rose  reenlisted,  joining  Company  I,  One  Hundred  and  Ninety-second 
Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  went  with  his  comrades,  and  was  in  the 
Shenandoah  valley  at  the  time  of  Lee’s  surrender.  He  was  chosen 
by  the  colonel  as  color  guard,  the  color  bearer’s  right  hand  man.  Honor- 
ably discharged  on  September  1,  1865,  Mr.  Rose  returned  home,  and 
the  ensuing  four  years  was  engaged  in  farming  for  himself  on  the 
parental  homestead.  Coming  to  Hardin  county  in  1869,  he  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  land  in  Jackson  township,  and  on  it  raised  two  crops. 
Trading  that  land  far  a tract  lying  three  miles  south  of  Mount  Blan- 
chard. Mr.  Rose  resided  there  two  seasons,  and  then  sold  out  and  bought 
sixty  acres  of  land,  the  old  Shaw  place,  lying  across  the  river  in  the 
same  township.  A year  later,  taking  advantage  of  a good  offer,  he 
sold  that  farm,  and  bought  the  old  Musgrave  homestead  of  one  hun- 
dred acres  in  the  same  township,  and  was  engaged  in  its  management 
for  three  years.  Again  selling  at  an  advance,  Mr.  Rose  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  land  in  Madison  township,  and  also  bought  property  in 
Dunkirk,  where  he  lived  for  six  months.  Taking  possession  then  of  the 
Madison  township  farm,  situated  one  and  one-half  miles  west  of  Williams- 
town,  he  was  there  engaged  in  tilling  the  soil  until  1881,  when  he  sold 
and  invested  his  money  in  Jay  county,  Indiana,  buying  two  farms  of 
eighty  acres  each.  Disposing  of  both  farms  in  1886,  Mr.  Rose,  whose 
health  was  badly  impaired,  came  to  Kenton,  where  he  lived  retired  a 
number  of  years.  In  1897,  having  recovered  to  some  extent  his  former 


752 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


physical  vigor,  he  bought  a farm  of  one  hundred  and  forty-five  acres  in 
Adams  county,  Indiana,  and  was  there  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
for  four  years.  In  1901  he  returned  to  Kenton  and  has  since  been 
actively  and  profitably  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business. 

Mr.  Rose  married,  in  1868,  Jane  Scott,  who  was  born  in  Crawford 
county,  Ohio,  a daughter  of  John  and  Amelia  Scott.  Three  children 
were  born  of  their  union  Flora,  Ella  May  and  Edwin  Rose.  Ella  May 
died  when  five  months  old.  Edwin  Rose  married  first  Mary  Krenbihl, 
who  died  in  early  life,  leaving  one  child,  Ellen.  He  married  for  his 
second  wife  Estella  Woods,  and  they  have  one  child,  James  D.  Rose.  This 
wife  also  died  and  he  married  for  his  third  wife  Nellie  Weller.  Flora 
Rose  married  first  Edward  Wilson,  and  married  second  P.  F.  Swanger. 
By  her  first  marriage  Mrs.  Swanger  had  two  children,  Effie  and  Goldie  G. 
By  her  present  union  she  has  one  child,  Charlie  Swanger.  Mr.  Rose  is  a 
member  of  Cantwell  Post  No.  99,  G.  A.  R. 

J.  Harry  Wagner. — Widely  known  throughout  this  section  of  the 
state  in  his  official  capacity  of  sheriff  of  Hardin  county,  J.  Harry  Wag- 
ner, of  Kenton,  has  spent  the  larger  part  of  his  life  in  this  vicinity, 
contributing  towards  the  advancement  of  its  agricultural  and  industrial 
interests  and  gaining  for  himself  the  reputation  of  one  who  deserves 
the  confidence  and  trust  of  his  fellow-men.  A son  of  W.  TI.  H.  Wagner, 
he  was  born,  September  20,  1870,  in  Pleasant  township,  Hardin  county, 
coming  from  pioneer  ancestry,  his  paternal  grandfather,  Henry  L.  Wag- 
ner, and  his  maternal  grandfather,  John  TI.  Gary,  having  been  early 
settlers  of  this  county. 

W.  H.  H.  Wagner,  a native  of  Warren  county,  Ohio,  came  to  Hardin 
county  when  young,  and  was  brought  up  on  the  homestead  cleared  and 
improved  by  his  father.  He  became  a farmer,  and  was  for  many  years 
engaged  in  tilling  the  soil  in  Pleasant  township,  but  is  now  a resident 
of  Kenton.  He  married  Mary  A.  Gary,  who  came  to  Hardin  county 
with  her  parents,  and  to  them  six  children  were  born,  three  of  whom 
are  living,  J.  Harry  being  the  eldest. 

Growing  to  man’s  estate  on  the  home  farm,  J.  Harry  Wagner  early 
became  familiar  with  its  various  labors,  in  the  meantime  obtaining  a 
practical  education  in  the  common  schools.  A natural  mechanic,  he 
made  use  of  his  talents  by  learning  the  carpenter’s  trade,  under  the 
tuition  of  J.  S.  Scott,  of  Kenton,  and  for  awhile,  in  addition  to  farming, 
carried  on  a substantial  business  as  a contractor  and  builder.  An 
active  worker  in  the  Republican  party,  Mr.  Wagner  was  elected  sheriff 
of  Hardin  county  in  1908,  and  has  since  served  in  this  position  with 
recognized  ability.  He  has  been  successful  in  his  career,  and  is  the 
owner  of  a valuable  farming  property  in  Taylor  Creek  township. 

Mr.  Wagner  married,  November  16,  1892,  Olive  Brelsford,  a daugh- 
ter of  James  J.  and  Victoria  (Smiley)  Brelsford,  of  Hardin  county,  and 
they  have  one  child,  Juanita  Wagner.  Fraternally  Mr.  Wagner  is  a 
member  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks ; of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows ; and  of  the  local  Grange. 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


753 


James  M.  Baldwin,  who  is  engaged  in  a real  estate,  loan  and  insur- 
ance business  at  Kenton,  Ohio,  has  been  a resident  of  this  place  for  over 
twenty-five  years.  He  is  a native  of  Ohio,  born  in  Logan  county,  Aug- 
ust 30,  1843,  of  Western  Reserve  pioneer  stock,  his  ancestors  having 
come  here  at  an  early  day  from  Pennsylvania.  Jonah  Baldwin,  his 
father,  Jerrub  Baldwin,  his  grandfather,  were  both  born  in  Ohio,  the  for- 
mer in  Stark  county.  Jonah  Baldwin  now  eighty -six  years  of  age,  is 
a resident  of  West  Mansfield,  this  state.  His  wife,  Mary  (Yarrington) 
Baldwin,  a native  of  Union  county,  Ohio,  died  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
eight  years.  Her  father,  Ephraim  Yarrington,  came  from  his  native 
state,  Pennsylvania,  to  Ohio  at  an  early  day.  Jonah  and  Mary  Bald- 
win had  eight  children,  six  sons  and  two  daughters ; all  the  sons  are 
living  but  the  daughters  are  deceased. 

When  James  M.,  the  eldest  of  the  children  was  about  twelve  years 
old  his  father  moved  to  West  Mansfield  and  settled  on  a farm,  which  as 
a boy,  he  helped  to  clear  and  cultivate,  and  which  he  left  just  as  he  was 
entering  manhood  to  answer  his  country’s  call.  On  August  8,  1862, 
he  enlisted  as  a member  of  Company  II,  Ninety-sixth  Ohio  Volunteer 
Infantry,  and  as  a private  he  shared  the  fortunes  of  his  command  until 
the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  mustered  out  at  Mobile,  Alabama,  and 
discharged  at.  Columbus,  Ohio,  July  31,  1865,  During  his  service  he 
was  in  thirteen  hard  fought  battles,  besides  numerous  lesser  engagements, 
but  was  fortunate  enough  to  escape  without  a wound.  For  a time  he 
was  ill  and  in  hospital.  The  year  following  his  return  from  the  army 
he  married,  and  for  several  years  thereafter  was  engaged  in  contracting 
and  carpenter  work.  He  spent  one  year  at  Mt.  Victory,  Ohio,  after 
which  he  went  over  into  Indiana  and  settled  in  Rochester,  where  he 
made  his  home  fifteen  years.  After  this  he  lived  two  years  in  Warsaw, 
and  in  1884  came  back  from  there  to  Ohio  and  took  up  his  residence  in 
Kenton,  where  he  has  since  remained.  Here  he  continued  work  at  the 
carpenter’s  trade  until  1900,  and  since  then  has  been  engaged  in  a real 
estate  and  insurance  business.  Also  he  is  a justice  of  the  peace,  having 
been  elected  to  this  office  November  8,  1904. 

Mr.  Baldwin  married,  on  May  17,  1866,  Miss  Sarah  F.  Kennedy, 
who  was  born  on  a farm  in  Hardin  county  December  9,  1844,  a daughter 
of  Moses  and  Nancy  Kennedy.  To  them  were  born  a son  and  daugh- 
ter. The  latter,  Ida  May,  is  the  wife  of  L.  Wilson,  and  the  son,  Charles 
E.,  married  Mattie  I.  Cessna,  of  South  Kenton.  Politically  Mr.  Bald- 
win has  been  a life-long  Republican.  He  is  prominent  and  active  in 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  being  a member  of  Cantwell  Post,  No. 
97,  in  which  he  has  filled  all  the  chairs.  Also  he  is  a member  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  His  religious  creed  is  that  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  with  which  he  has  been  identified  all  his 
life  and  in  which  for  years  he  served  as  class-leader. 

William  A.  Hatch. — Among  the  native  born  citizens  of  Hardin 
county  noted  for  their  intelligence  and  capabilty  is  William  A.  Hatch, 
a representative  agriculturist  of  Pleasant  township,  and  proprietor  of 
“Locust  Lawn  Farm,”  one  of  the  model  rural  estates  of  this  section  of 


754 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Ohio.  Clear-headed  and  active,  possessing  excellent  judgment,  he  is 
meeting  with  eminent  success  as  a general  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  and 
is  widely  and  favorably  known  as  an  upright,  honorable  man.  He  was 
born,  in  1850,  in  Cessna  township,  Hardin  county,  a son  of  Chester 
Hatch,  coming  on  the  paternal  side  of  substantial  New  England  ancestry. 

Born  in  Vermont,  Chester  Hatch  grew  to  a vigorous  manhood  among 
the  rugged  hills  of  his  native  state.  Lured  westward  by  the  glowing 
accounts  of  cheap  lands  to  be  found  in  Ohio,  he  came  to  Hardin  county 
in  1845,  locating  in  Cessna  township,  where  he  purchased  eighty  acres 
of  land  that  was  still  in  its  virgin  wildness.  In  his  New  England  home 
he  had  obtained  a practical  education,  and  after  coming  to  this  county 
he  taught  school  during  several  winter  seasons,  in  the  meantime  working 
hard  during  the  long  summers  on  his  land.  By  diligence,  thrift  and 
good  management  he  improved  a good  farm,  on  which  he  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  life,  passing  away  in  1902.  He  was  prominent  in 
local  affairs,  serving  many  years  as  justice  of  the  peace,  and  holding 
minor  offices  of  responsibility.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Mary  Chambers,  was  born  and  brought  up  in  Pennsylvania,  in  the  vc- 
cinity  of  Cliambersburg,  and  died,  in  1900,  in  Cessna  township.  Two 
sons  were  born  of  their  union,  namely:  David  and  William  A.  David 
married  Matilda  Gillon,  who  died  in  1879,  in  early  womanhood. 

William  A.  Hatch  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Cessna 
township,  and  while  on  the  home  farm  was  initiated  into  the  mysteries 
of  agriculture.  Following  in  the  footsteps  of  his  father,  he  taught 
school  a number  of  winter  terms  when  a young  man,  working  on  the 
farm  during  seed  time  and  harvest.  He  afterward  began  his  agricul- 
tural career  by  purchasing  forty  acres  of  land  adjoining  his  father’s 
homestead,  in  Cessna  township,  where  he  carried  on  his  chosen  occupa- 
tion for  a while.  Wishing  to  enlarge  his  operations,  Mr.  Hatch  removed 
to  Washington  township,  where  he  bought  a farm  of  eighty  acres,  which 
he  managed  with  excellent  pecuniary  results  for  a number  of  seasons. 
In  1900  he  purchased  Locust  Lawn  Farm  in  Pleasant  township,  and  three 
years  later,  in  1903,  took  possession  of  the  property.  Mr.  Hatch  is 
carrying  on  his  labors  after  the  latest  and  most  approved  scientific  meth- 
ods, his  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  being  well  cultivated  and 
well  improved  and  considered  one  of  the  most  valuable  in  the  neighbor- 
hood. TIis  farming  machinery  and  implements  are  of  the  most  improved 
patterns,  and  everything  about  the  place  is  in  keeping  with  the  appli- 
ances of  a first-class  agriculturist. 

Mr.  Hatch  married,  on  October  29,  1879,  Elizabeth  N.  Ilagerman, 
who  was  born  in  Marion  township,  Hardin  county,  daughter  of  Rev. 
Samuel  Hagerman.  Mr.  Hagerman  was  born  in  Carroll  county,  Ohio, 
but  was  brought  up  and  educated  in  Richland  county,  Ohio,  where  as  a 
young  man  he  learned  the  blacksmith’s  trade.  Removing  to  Hardin 
county  in  1836,  he  bought  forty  acres  of  land  in  Marion  township,  and 
by  dint  of  earnest  labor  cleared  and  improved  a homestead.  In  con- 
junction with  farming,  he  followed  his  trade,  burning  the  charcoal  which 
he  used  in  his  forge.  Converted  in  early  life,  he  united  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  which  he  subsequently  served  ably  and 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


755 


faithfully  for  many  years,  first  as  a licensed  preacher  and  afterward 
as  an  ordained  elder.  He  was  active  in  the  ministry  until  a short  time 
before  his  death,  which  occurred,  August  30,  1884,  at  Ada,  Ohio.  He 
was  a member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  showed  much  interest  in 
the  Order.  Mr.  Hagerman  married  Elizabeth  Hiles,  who  survived  him 
many  years,  passing  away  in  1898.  She  bore  him  the  following  children, 
namely:  Dayton  A.;  Mary  M. ; John  W. ; Eliza  E.,  deceased;  Elizabeth 
E.,  deceased;  Samuel  A.;  Edith  A.;  Elizabeth  N.  wife  of  Mr.  Hatch; 
William  J.,  a prominent  minister  of  Toledo,  pastor  of  the  Second  Metho- 
dist church ; Genevra  J. ; Sarah ; Alfretta ; and  Benson,  deceased. 

Dr.  Jacob  A.  Grove,  formerly  a prominent  physician  and  now  living 
at  Kenton,  Ohio,  retired  from  active  life,  was  born  in  York  county, 
Pennsylvania,  September  8,  1833,  and  is  a son  of  Jacob  and  Agnes 
(Martin)  Grove,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  The  father  was  a 
weaver  by  trade,  also  carried  on  a farm,  and  he  died  in  his  native  state 
when  about  seventy-four  years  of  age.  He  was  of  German  descent. 
His  widow  survived  him  and  lived  to  be  ninety-four  years  old,  her  death 
being  caused  by  accident.  They  were  the  parents  of  four  sons  and 
four  daughters,  six  children  growing  to  maturity,  three  sons  and  three 
daughters,  and  besides  Dr.  Grove  one  other  survives,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Margaret  Hyson,  of  York  county,  Pennsylvania.  Jacob  Adams  is  the 
youngest  child  of  the  family. 

The  boyhood  of  Dr.  Grove  was  spent  in  his  native  state,  and  he  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Stewartstown  and  the 
academy  at  that  town.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  he  began 
teaching  school,  which  he  followed  three  or  four  winters,  when  he  moved 
to  Ohio,  settling  at  Mount  Blanchard,  Hancock  county,  where  he  taught 
school  one  summer.  In  the  spring  of  1861  Mr.  Grove  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany F,  Twenty-first  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  serving  four  months. 
Returning  to  Mount  Blanchard,  he  finished  his  fall  and  winter  terms  of 
school,  and  in  the  spring  of  1862  he  began  studying  medicine.  He 
reenlisted  July  4,  1863,  in  Company  C,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- 
eighth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  in 

1865.  He  served  twenty-nine  months  in  all  and  about  the  last  year  was 
detailed  as  a musician.  He  resumed  his  study  of  medicine  at  the  close 
of  the  war,  and  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  the  spring  of 

1866,  at  Mount  Blanchard.  He  continued  in  the  successful  practice  of 
medicine  there  until  1893,  when  he  removed  to  Kenton  and  retired  from 
active  life.  He  has  made  his  home  in  Kenton  many  years,  and  is  one 
of  the  public-spirited  and  representative  citizens  of  the  town.  He  is 
well  known  and  highly  respected.  Pie  was  a member  of  the  Ohio  State 
Eclectic  Medical  Association  and  of  the  National  and  Northwestern 
Eclectic  Medical  societies.  He  has  been  a member  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  since  1858,  and  also  belongs  to  the  Masons,  with 
which  order  he  has  been  affiliated  a number  of  years.  At  one  time  Dr. 
Grove  was  an  active  and  prominent  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic.  Pie  is  a member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  has  been  an 
elder  since  October  6,  1895.  Before  the  inception  of  the  Republican 


756 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


party  Dr.  Grove  was  a Whig,  but  since  its  organization  has  supported  the 
Republican  party.  He  had  the  satisfaction  of  voting  twice  for  Abraham 
Lincoln  and  has  helped  elect  all  the  Republican  presidents.  He  is 
actively  interested  in  local  affairs,  and  keeps  well  informed  in  current 
events  and  issues. 

Dr.  Grove  married  on  February  14,  1867,  Pliebe,  daughter  of 
Charles  and  Sarah  (Twining)  VanHorn,  of  Hancock  county,  Ohio;  she 
died  March  29,  1889.  Dr.  Grove  married  for  his  second  wife,  January 
1,  1891,  Ella  Eliza  McClay,  who  was  born  in  Logan,  Hocking  county, 
Ohio,  and  reared  in  Licking  county.  She  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  and  also  attended  the  Granville  school.  She  prepared  herself 
for  teaching  and  taught  twenty-three  years  in  Licking,  Hancock,  Wood, 
Allen  and  Hardin  counties.  She  taught  seven  years  in  the  Central 
building  in  Kenton.  Her  father,  William  McClay,  was  born  in  county 
Donegal,  Ireland,  and  died  in  his  seventy-eighth  year.  He  was  a car- 
penter by  trade  and  came  to  America  when  twenty  years  of  age.  He 
served  in  the  Seventy-sixth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry  until  discharged 
on  account  of  disability.  He  settled  in  Ohio  about  1835,  and  made  his 
home  in  Hocking  county.  He  married  Sarah  Nelson,  a native  of 
county  Down,  Ireland,  who  came  to  America  when  twelve  years  old, 
coming  with  her  father.  She  was  reared  in  Virginia,  remaining  there 
until  her  marriage.  Mrs.  Grove  is  the  youngest  of  their  seven  children, 
those  growing  to  maturity  being  Miss  Mary  Jane,  James  W.  and  Mrs. 
Grove.  Her  mother  was  the  youngest  of  her  father’s  family  and 
Mrs.  McClay ’s  father  was  the  youngest  child  of  his  father’s  family. 
Mr.  McClay  was  for  a long  time  a resident  of  Philadelphia,  before  locat- 
ing in  Ohio.  He  was  married  in  Virginia,  and  soon  after  moved  to  Ohio. 

James  W.  McClay  enlisted  in  the  Home  Guards  when  but  seventeen 
years  of  age ; they  were  called  to  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  there  asked  if 
they  wanted  to  go  out  of  the  state,  Mr.  McClay  being  the  first  to  step 
out  and  declare  his  willingness  to  do  so.  He  was  taken  prisoner  July 
4,  1864.  He  was  a member  of  Company  F,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty- 
fifth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  his  Company,  with  another,  were 
keeping  guard  of  a road  in  West  Virginia  when  all  were  captured,  some 
being  sent  to  Andersonville.  Mr.  McClay  was  a prisoner  for  nine  months 
and  twenty-five  days,  and  spent  this  length  of  time  in  Andersonville. 
He  was  one  of  seven  in  his  mess  to  return  home,  all  the  others  having 
died.  He  lived  to  the  age  of  thirty-one  years.  Mr.  McClay  mar- 
ried Miss  V.  Rollison  and  they  had  two  sons,  one  of  whom  died  when 
small  and  the  other,  E.  R.  McClay,  at  the  age  of  thirty-one  years. 

Isaac  E.  Wilson. — Especially  worthy  of  mention  in  a work  of  this 
character  is  Isaac  E.  Wilson,  of  Kenton,  who  is  distinguished  not  only 
for  the  honored  ancestry  from  which  he  is  descended  but  for  his  fine 
record  of  service  as  a county  official,  and  for  the  substantial  position  he 
has  attained  among  the  leading  agriculturists  of  this  part  of  Hardin 
county.  A native  and  to  the  manner  born,  his  birth  occurred  September 
20,  1842,  in  Pleasant  township,  this  county.  His  father,  John  Wilson, 
Jr.,  and  his  grandfather,  John  Wilson,  Sr.,  were  both  natives  of  West- 
moreland county,  Pennsylvania.  Colonel  James  Wilson,  great-grand- 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


757 


father  of  Isaac  E.,  was  born  in  the  north  of  Ireland,  of  Scotch  ancestry, 
and  was  as  far  as  known  the  only  member  of  his  immediate  family  to 
cross  the  Atlantic.  Coming-  to  the  United  States  in  colonial  times,  he 
commanded  a regiment  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  having  enlisted  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  was  at  the  front  in  various  engagements.  He  was 
also  one  of  the  nine  men  from  the  Keystone  state  that  signed  the  Decla- 
ration of  Independence. 

John  Wilson,  Sr.,  served  under  General  Wayne  in  the  war  of  1812. 
He  subsequently  came  with  his  family  to  Ohio,  settling  as  a pioneer  in 
Holmes  county.  He  moved  from  there  to  Richland  county,  later  coming 
to  Hardin  county,  and  he  spent  his  last  years  with  his  son,  John  Wilson, 
Jr.  Born  in  Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania,  July  25,  1811,  John 
Wilson,  Jr.,  was  quite  young  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Ohio. 
He  married  in  Richland  county,  and  in  1839  came  to  Hardin  county  to 
live,  being  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Pleasant  township.  Buying  a tract 
of  timber  lying  five  miles  north  of  Kenton,  and  close  to  the  present  site 
of  Grant  station,  he  built  a two-story  hewed  log  house,  a pretentious 
structure  for  those  days,  when  most  of  the  people  were  content  to  live 
in  humble  log  cabins.  The  surrounding  country  was  in  its  primeval 
condition,  wild  beasts  roaming  at  will  through  the  forests,  while  Indians 
were  numerous  and  for  the  most  part  friendly.  There  were  no  markets 
nearer  than  Sandusky,  and  the  trip  across  the  country  made  with  teams 
was  long  and  tedious,  these  highways  being  rough.  The  first  mill  in  this 
vicinity  was  operated  by  horse  power,  the  farmers  being  obliged  to 
unhitch  their  own  horses  and  place  them  to  the  power  whenever  they 
wanted  grain  ground.  Little  do  the  people  of  this  day  of  comforts  and 
even  luxuries  realize  the  hardships  and  the  trials  endured,  the  great 
ambition  required  and  the  physical  endurance  demanded  to  secure  the 
homes  established  by  the  Ohio  pioneers  for  themselves  and  their  descend- 
ants. Though  not  an  extremely  tall  man,  John  Wilson,  Jr.,  possessed 
a fine  physique,  being  noted  for  his  strength  and  endurance.  Improving 
a fine  farm  from  the  wilderness,  he  continued  a resident  of  Pleasant 
township  until  1865,  and  then  moved  to  Hancock  county  where  he  lived 
until  his  death,  August  25,  1895.  at  the  advanced  age  of  four  score  and 
four  years.  He  was  a Republican  in  politics,  and  a devoted  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  John  Wilson,  Jr.,  was  twice  married. 
He  married  first  Phoebe  Osbun,  who  was  born  in  Richland  county,  Ohio, 
where  her  father,  Nathaniel  Osbun,  settled  as  a pioneer,  and  cleared  and 
improved  the  land  now  occupied  by  the  Richland  County  Infirmary. 
She  died  in  1857,  in  the  prime  of  life.  He  married  for  his  second  wife 
Mary  Jane  Bushong,  who  died  in  1896.  Of  his  first  union  nine  children 
were  born,  namely:  Eve,  Thurza,  Eliza,  Ann,  Mary,  Sarah,  Rachel, 

Isaac  E.  and  Nathaniel. 

The  little  one-story  cabin  built  of  round  logs  in  which  Isaac  E. 
Wilson  obtained  his  early  schooling  was  furnished  with  seats  made  of 
split  linn  wood  saplings,  one  side  being  hewn,  with  wooden  pins  inserted 
for  legs,  having  no  backs  and  no  desks  in  front,  the  older  scholars  learn- 
ing to  write  on  a board  placed  against  one  side  of  the  cabin,  the  whole 
being  very  unevenly  heated  by  a fireplace.  On  June  6,  1861,  abandoning 


758 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


work  in  the  fields,  Mr.  Wilson  enlisted  in  Company  D,  Fourth  Ohio 
Volunteer  Infantry,  and  was  mustered  into  service  at  Camp  Denison, 
near  Cincinnati,  and  on  June  20  of  that  year  started  for  West  Virginia. 
He  first  met  the  enemy  in  battle  at  Rich  Mountain,  and  soon  after  that 
event  his  regiment  was  assigned  to  the  Third  Brigade  of  the  Second 
Division,  Second  Corps,  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  commanded  by 
General  Hancock,  who  claimed  that  this  corps  captured  more  colors  and 
more  arms  than  all  of  the  rest  of  the  Union  forces  combined.  With  his 
comrades  Mr.  Wilson  participated  in  many  of  the  more  noted  engage- 
ments of  the  war,  including  among  others  the  two  at  Romney,  Winchester, 
Port  Republic,  Harrison  Landing,  Second  Bull  Run,  Antietam,  Freder- 
icsburg,  Gettysburg,  Bristol  Station,  Mine  Run,  Wilderness,  Poe  Run, 
and  Spottsylvania.  At  the  latter  battle  he  was  wounded  in  the  left 
shoulder,  and  sent  to  the  hospital  for  treatment.  He  rejoined  the  regi- 
ment at  Cold  Harbor,  and  was  honorably  discharged  on  account  of  the 
expiration  of  his  term  of  enlistment.  On  March  31,  1865,  Mr.  Wilson 
enlisted  in  Company  E,  One  Hundred  and  Ninety-eighth  Ohio  Volunteer 
Infantry,  for  a second  term  of  service,  and  was  stationed  at  Camp  Chase, 
Columbus,  to  guard  Confederate  soldiers  until  May  8,  1865,  when  he  was 
honorably  discharged. 

Returning  home  Mr.  Wilson  entered  the  employ  of  Rev.  Jacob 
Holmes,  whose  farm  he  managed  for  two  years.  He  subsequently 
followed  the  carpenter’s  trade  until  1872,  when  he  was  appointed  super- 
intendent of  the  Hardin  County  Infirmary,  and  served  four  years.  He 
afterwards  followed  his  trade  three  years,  when,  in  1879,  he  was  again 
honored  with  an  appointment  as  superintendent  of  the  same  infirmary, 
and  held  the  position  during  the  next  thirteen  years,  discharging  the 
duties  devolving  upon  him  as  head  of  that  institution  with  ability  and 
fidelity.  In  the  meantime  Mr.  Wilson  purchased  one  hundred  acres 
of  the  land  included  in  his  present  farm,  which  is  advantageously  located 
on  Scioto  Valley  pike.  Tie  cleared  off  the  heavy  growth  of  timber,  erected 
a substantial  set  of  buildings,  and  has  here  been  successfully  engaged  in 
general  farming  since,  his  estate  with  its  excellent  improvements  being 
very  attractive  and  valuable. 

Mr.  Wilson  married,,  in  1867,  Kate  Hufnagle,  who  was  born  at 
Chillicothe,  Ross  county,  Ohio,  a daughter  of  John  and  Harriet  Hufnagle. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilson  have  had  four  children,  Willis  H.  and  Hattie,  and 
two  that  died  in  infancy.  Willis  II.  Wilson  married  Hallie  Baird,  and 
they  have  three  chilrden,  Clifford,  Kathryn  and  Flora.  He  enlisted  in 
Company  I,  Second  Ohio  Regiment,  on  May  10,  1898,  for  the  Spanish- 
American  war,  and  was  mustered  out  February  4,  1899.  He  had  been 
fourteen  years  a member  of  the  Ohio  Second  Regiment  of  Militia  and 
was  second  lieutenant  for  three  years  and  first  lieutenant  for  four  years, 
but  had  resigned  his  commission  before  the  opening  of  the  Spanish- 
American  war.  Hattie  Wilson  married  Orlando  Doster  and  they  are 
the  parents  of  five  children,  Esther,  Isaac,  Harl,  Ellen  and  Eulah. 
Religiously  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilson  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  Politically  a steadfast  Republican,  Mr.  Wilson  served  as 
deputy  sheriff  in  1887  and  1888  and  is  now  agent  for  the  Hardin  County 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


759 


Humane  Society.  He  is  an  active  member  of  Cantwell  Post  No.  97, 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  which  he  has  served  as  junior  and  senior 
vice-commander  and  as  commander,  and  has  also  been  an  aide  de  camp 
on  the  staff  of  the  department  commander. 

-James  C.  Poling. — Among  the  substantial,  public-spirited  citizens 
of  Kenton,  Ohio,  is  James  C.  Poling,  surveyor  of  Hardin  county.  He 
was  born  in  Hocking  county,  Ohio,  September  18,  1868,  and  is  the  fourth 
son  of  Samuel  B.  and  Irene  (Smith)  Poling.  Samuel  B.  Poling  was 
also  born  in  Hocking  county,  where  he  was  reared  and  married,  and  he 
died  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years;  his  widow,  who  is  a native  of 
Maryland,  survives  him  and  resides  at  Ada.  Mr.  Poling  located  in 
Ada  in  1881,  and  engaged  in  farming  near  the  village. 

J.  C.  Poling  was  thirteen  years  of  age  at  the  time  his  parents  re- 
moved to  Hardin  county.  After  attending  the  public  schools  he  entered 
the  Ada  Normal  after  which  he  taught  school  in  the  county  for  a period 
of  twelve  years,  becoming  one  of  the  most  prominent  educators  in  the 
county  and  during  those  years  of  school  attendance  and  teaching  he 
obtained  his  knowledge  of  engineering.  In  1901  Mr.  Poling  located  in 
Kenton,  filling  the  position  of  deputy  county  surveyor  for  a term  of 
four  years,  after  which  he  spent  three  years  in  abstract  and  general 
surveying,  and  in  1906  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  county  surveyor, 
being  reelected  in  1908. 

Politically  Mr.  Poling  is  a stanch  Democrat,  and  has  taken  a deep 
interest  in  the  intrests  of  the  party.  He  is  a conscientious,  faithful 
official,  who  gives  his  most  careful  attention  to  the  duties  of  his  office, 
for  which  he  is  well  fitted.  He  is  a member  of  Amicitia  Lodge  No.  79,  of 
Scioto  Encampment,  No.  179,  and  Canton  Kenton  No.  83,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  and 
of  Lodge  No.  157,  B.  P.  0.  E.  He  is  considered  one  of  the  representa- 
tive citizens  of  Kenton,  where  he  is  well  known  and  has  many  friends. 
He  is  upright  and  honorable  in  all  his  dealings,  and  his  sterling  integrity 
and  probity  are  unquestioned.  On  October  30,  1894,  Mr.  Poling  mar- 
ried Lottie  Robinson,  a daughter  of  F.  M.  and  Martha  (Pemperton) 
Robinson,  natives  of  Wyandot  county,  Ohio.  Three  children  have 
been  born  to  them:  Neil  R.  and  James  Conwell,  students  in  the  high 

school  and  Carol  E.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Poling  are  members  of  the 
First  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Reverend  Henry  Katterjohn. — The  city  of  Kenton,  Ohio,  has 
some  beautiful  churches,  and  one  of  these  which  is  in  a very  prosperous 
condition  is  the  Evangelical  church,  presided  over  by  Rev.  Henry 
Katterjohn.  Mr.  Katterjohn  was  born  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  October  24, 
1869,  a son  of  William  and  Sophia  (Schoer)  Katterjohn,  both  of  whom 
reside  in  Cincinnati.  The  father  was  born  in  Ladbergen,  Germany, 
where  he  was  reared.  He  came  to  America  in  1866.  locating  in  Cincin- 
nati. He  was  a mason  by  trade.  His  wife  is  also  a native  of  Germany, 
and  came  to  America  one  year  later  than  her  husband ; they  were  mar- 
ried in  the  city  where  they  now  reside. 

The  early  education  of  Rev.  Henry  Katterjohn  was  acquired  in  his 


760 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


native  city,  where  he  attended  high  school  two  years.  In  1885  he  began 
studying  for  the  ministry  and  took  a four  years’  course  at  Elmhurst 
College  near  Chicago,  after  which  he  spent  three  years  in  a theological 
seminary  at  St.  Louis.  His  first  charge  was  at  Urbana,  Ohio,  and  after 
spending  four  years  at  Waverly  he  located  in  Kenton  in  April,  1897. 
His  work  in  Kenton  has  been  very  successful,  and  as  a result  of  tin. 
growth  and  prosperous  condition  of  the  church  and  its  finances  a fine 
edifice  was  erected,  which  was  completed  August  16,  1903,  at  a cost  of 
thirty  thousand  dollars.  This  is  the  handsomest  church  building  in 
Kenton,  and  the  members  and  pastor  may  well  be  proud  of  the  result 
of  their  efforts.  Rev.  Katterjohn  is  an  able,  convincing  speaker,  and  is 
accorded  the  fullest  affection  of  his  congregation,  as  well  as  the  esteem 
and  confidence  of  all  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact.  He  is  a whole- 
souled,  public-spirited  citizen,  whose  life  is  an  inspiration  to  many. 

On  November  7,  1904,  Rev.  Katterjohn  married  Mary  Eccarius 
Schindewolf,  a native  of  Hardin  county,  whose  parents  were  early 
settlers  there. 

W.  LI.  Lick,  city  treasurer  of  Kenton,  Ohio,  has  for  years  been  in 
the  meat  market  business  here  and  in  many  other  ways  identified  with 
the  town.  He  was  born  in  Lehigh  county,  Pennsylvania,  June  9,  1860, 
and  spent  the  first  fourteen  years  of  his  life  there.  Then  he  went  west, 
visited  St.  Louis  and  Kansas  City  and  various  points  in  Iowa  and 
Minnesota,  and  after  five  years  spent  there  came  to  Ohio  and  took  up 
his  residence  at  Tiffin.  In  1887  he  came  from  Tiffin  to  Kenton  and 
opened  a meat  market,  and  here  he  has  since  continued  in  this  business, 
having  occupied  his  present  location  for  twenty-two  years.  By  honest 
dealing  and  close  personal  attention  to  detail  he  has  met  with  deserved 
success,  and  with  the  passing  years  has  accumulated  a competency.  He 
is  a bank  director  and  the  owner  of  farm  property,  and  he  has  various 
investments  in  Kenton. 

In  1880,  at  Tiffin,  Ohio,  he  married  Miss  Sarah  Diemer,  of  that  city, 
and  to  them  have  been  given  two  sons,  Karl  and  Ralph.  Mr.  Lick  is  a 
thirty-second  degree  Mason  and  a member  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  and  he 
also  has  membership  in  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks  of  Kenton.  Politically  he  is  a Democrat,  and 
has  always  taken  an  active  part  in  local  affairs;  was  a member  of  the 
city  council  in  1890,  and  at  this  writing  is  city  treasurer. 

Pearl  M.  Magly,  manager  and  treasurer  of  the  Kenton  Gas  & 
Electric  Company,  Kenton,  Ohio,  was  born  in  this  city  February  9, 
1876,  a son  of  J.  J.  and  Mary  (Handenschild)  Magly.  J.  J.  Magly 
engaged  in  the  pump  business  at  Kenton,  has  been  identified  with  this 
place  since  1852,  when  he  came  here  from  Licking  county,  Ohio,  where 
he  was  born.  He  has  a family  of  seven  children,  Pearl  M.  being  the 
fifth  born  and  only  son. 

After  receiving  a common  school  education  Pearl  M.  Magly  went  to 
work  as  a bookkeeper  and  clerk  for  the  Scioto  Furniture  Company,  with 
which  he  remained  four  years.  Afterward  he  was  with  Harry  Gray  in 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


761 


the  grocery  business,  and  later  was  bookkeeper  for  Hensel  & Snyder. 
In  1899  he  engaged  in  the  coal  and  tile  business,  which  he  continued  until 
1909,  when  he  became  manager  of  the  Kenton  Gas  & Electric  Company, 
a position  he  has  since  held,  and  since  1907  he  has  also  been  treasurer  of 
the  company. 

Politically  Mr.  Magly  is  a stanch  Republican,  and  fraternally,  a 
Mason,  having  served  as  master  of  Latham  Lodge  from  1906  to  1908, 
and  he  has  taken  the  degrees  in  this  ancient  and  honored  order  up  to  and 
including  the  commandery.  He  married,  in  1904,  Miss  Clare  Keil,  of 
Lima,  Ohio. 

Charles  A.  Stevenson. — Worthy  of  note  in  this  volume,  not  only 
as  a native  born  citizen  of  Hardin  county,  but  as  a veteran  of  the  Civil 
war,  Charles  A.  Stevenson  was  for  many  years  an  important  factor  in 
promoting  the  agricultural  interests  of  this  section  of  the  state,  having 
been  prosperously  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  until  1909,  when  he 
moved  to  his  present  home,  lying  one  and  one-half  miles  south  of  the 
Kenton  courthouse.  He  was  born,  November  17,  1843,  in  Taylor  Creek 
township,  Hardin  county,  where  his  father,  James  Stevenson,  was  a 
very  early  settler.  As  early  as  1822  James  Stevenson  was  living  in 
Champaign  county,  Ohio,  from  there  moving,  in  1827,  to  Logan  county. 
Settling  then  near  the  Hardin  county  line,  he  remained  there  until  1834, 
when  he  bought  land  in  Taylor  Creek  township,  which  was  then  a com- 
parative wilderness.  Redeeming  a farm  from  the  forest,  he  was  there 
a resident  until  his  death,  June  6,  1865.  He  married  Unity  New, 
whose  death  occurred  on  the  home  farm  March  10,  1864.  Eight  sons 
and  four  daughters  were  born  of  their  union,  as  follows:  Silas,  Robert, 

Lace,  Jane,  William,  John,  Ephraim,  Harriet,  Margaret,  Charles  A., 
David  and  Louisa.  Six  of  the  sons,  Robert,  Lace,  John,  Ephraim, 
Charles  and  David  served  in  the  Civil  war,  Ephraim  dying  while  in 
service. 

Attending  the  district  schools  and  assisting  his  father  on  the  farm, 
Charles  A.  Stevenson  remained  beneath  the  parental  roof-tree  until 
September,  1864,  when  he  enlisted  in  Company  LI,  One  Hundred  and 
Seventy-ninth  Ohio  Vohmteer  Infantry.  Going  south,  he  joined  with 
his  regiment  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  and 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  taking  an  active  part  in  all  of  the 
marches,  campaigns  and  battles  in  which  his  regiment  participated. 
Returning  home  after  receiving  his  honorable  discharge,  Mr.  Stevenson 
rented  the  home  farm  for  a year,  and  then,  in  1865,  bought  sixty-five 
acres  of  land  in  Taylor  Creek  township,  a part  of  which  had  been 
cleared  and  on  it  a log  house  and  barn  had  been  built.  A year  later  he 
sold  out,  at  an  advance,  and  subsequently  rented  land  for  a few  years. 
In  1875  Mr.  Stevenson  purchased  a farm  of  one  hundred  and  five  acres 
in  the  southern  part  of  Buck  township,  and  carried  on  general  farming 
there  for  twenty-six  years.  He  then  sold  and  bought  land  on  Mt. 
Victory  pike,  and  was  there  engaged  in  his  profitable  occupation  until 
1909,  when  he  sold  and  bought  his  present  attractive  home  estate  near 
Kenton. 


762 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Mr.  Stevenson  married  first,  in  1869,  Mary  S.  Richards,  who  was 
born  in  Buck  township,  a daughter  of  Leonard  Richards.  She  passed 
to  the  higher  life  in  1895.  Mr.  Stevenson  married  for  his  second  wife 
in  1897  Lyda  Rice,  a daughter  of  Thomas  Rice,  of  Taylor  Creek  township. 
By  his  first  marriage  Mr.  Stevenson  had  four  children,  namely : Stilla, 

Ida,  Louis  E.  and  Arthur  J.  Stilla,  a farmer,  married  Mary  Lyle.  Ida, 
wife  of  Charles  Royer,  has  three  children.  Louis  E.,  also  engaged  in 
farming,  married  Gertie  Cahill.  Arthur,  an  electrical  engineer,  resid- 
ing in  Washington,  D.  C.,  married  Roda  Bartlett.  In  his  political 
affiliations  Mr.  Stevenson  is  a decided  Republican.  He  belongs  to 
Cantwell  Post  No.  97,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  is  a member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  both  of  his  wives  belonging  also  to 
the  same  church. 

IIon.  J.  B.  Pumphrey,  of  Goshen  township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio, 
was  born  in  Fayette  county,  this  state,  October  25,  1838,  and  comes  of 
an  ancestry  that  has  figured  prominently  in  history.  Through  his 
grandmother  Pumphrey,  whose  maiden  name  was  Cromwell,  he  traces 
back  to  Oliver  Cromwell  of  English  history  fame.  Both  his  maternal 
and  paternal  ancestors  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  this  country. 
Caleb  Pumphrey  and  his  son  John  W.,  grandfather  and  father  respec- 
tively of  J.  B.  Pumphrey,  were  natives  of  Maryland,  from  whence  they 
came  west  to  Ohio  and  made  settlement  among  the  primitive  pioneers 
of  the  Western  Reserve.  John  W.  Pumphrey  was  a soldier  in  the  war 
of  1812  and  served  as  a scout  under  General  Harrison.  Previous  to  that 
time  he  spent  seven  years  trading  with  the  Indians,  during  which  period 
he  acquired  a knowledge  of  their  language  and  habits  which  made  him 
valuable  to  General  Harrison  in  that  war.  He  was  married  three  times 
and  was  the  father  of  seven  children,  four  of  whom  are  deceased.  The 
mother  of  J.  B.  Pumphrey  was  before  her  marriage  Miss  Jane  Wright, 
and  Fayette  county,  Ohio,  was  her  native  place. 

It  was  in  Fayette  and  Wyandot  counties  that  the  subject  of  our 
sketch  was  reared  and  educated.  In  early  youth  he  applied  himself 
closely  to  his  studies,  to  general  literature  as  well  as  to  the  text  books 
then  in  vogue,  and,  indeed,  it  may  be  said  of  him  that  he  has  been  a 
student  all  his  life.  When  a young  man  he  engaged  in  the  profession  of 
teaching,  which  he  followed  for  some  time,  teaching  both  day  and  night 
school  and  making  a.  specialty  of  penmanship.  When  the  Civil  war 
came  on  he  left  the  farm  to  enter  the  army.  On  August  12,  1862,  he 
enlisted  as  a private  in  Company  A,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-third 
Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  remained  in  the  government  service  until 
the  close  of  the  war.  After  nine  months  service  as  a private  soldier 
he  was  commissioned  second  lieutenant  under  Colonel  W.  T.  Wilson  and 
went  to  the  field  of  action.  On  June  16,  1863,  at  the  battle  of  Win- 
chester, Virginia,  his  entire  regiment  was  captured  by  General  Lee’s 
forces.  He  was  conveyed  to  Richmond  and  confined  in  Libby  prison, 
where  he  remained  until  May,  1864.  After  that  date  he  was  changed 
about  to  various  prisons  and  finally  was  lodged  in  Columbia,  North 
Carolina.  While  on  the  road  to  Columbia  he  made  an  attempt  to 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


763 


escape,  but  failed,  and  during  his  confinement  at  that  place  he  made  the 
second  attempt  before  he  was  successful  in  effecting  an  escape.  On  this 
journey  he  was  accompanied  by  B.  F.  Blair,  adjutant  of  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Twenty-third  Regiment.  His  imprisonment  covered  a period 
of  eighteen  months,  and  it  was  during  this  time  that  he  was  promoted  to 
the  rank  of  first  lieutenant,  which  he  held  at  the  close  of  the  war  when 
he  was  honorably  discharged.  On  reaching  his  regiment  after  escaping 
from  the  enemy  he  was  placed  in  direct  touch  with  and  under  the  orders 
of  the  war  department,  his  duty  being  to  transport  recruits  from  various 
points  of  distribution  to  the  front.  In  this  capacity  he  served  until  the 
close  of  the  war. 

On  his  return  to  civil  life  Mr.  Pumphrey  engaged  in  farming,  which 
he  has  followed  more  or  less  ever  since.  Since  1868  he  has  made  his 
home  in  Hardin  county,  and  at  this  writing  (1910)  he  is  the  owner  of 
two  hundred  and  twenty-four  acres  of  choice  farming  land,  his  postoffice 
address  being  Kenton.  He  was  for  two  years  cashier  of  the  Citizens 
Bank  of  Kenton,  and  for  years  much  of  his  time  has  been  devoted  to 
activity  in  political  affairs,  he  being  a stanch  Republican.  For  six 
years,  from  1876  to  1882,  he  was  a county  commissioner.  He  served 
one  term  as  a state  senator ; for  four  years  was  a member  of  the  state 
election  board  and  two  terms  he  represented  Hardin  county  in  the  state 
legislature,  his  time  in  this  office  expiring  in  1909. 

Mr.  Pumphrey  has  been  married  twice.  On  April  26,  1860,  he 
wedded  Miss  Adilla  Cook,  daughter  of  J.  Cook,  and  the  only  child  of 
this  union  died  in  infancy.  This  wife  having  died,  he  married,  Janu- 
ary 22,  1903,  for  his  second  companion  Miss  Estella  Harding,  daughter 
of  T.  G.  Harding.  By  her  he  has  one  son,  James  C.,  born  December  9, 
1905. 

Mr.  Pumphrey  has  long  been  a member  of  the  Methodist  church,  in 
which  he  is  prominent  and  active.  He  has  been  recording  secretary  of 
the  church  for  thirty  years,  and  for  twenty  years  he  has  served  as  Sun- 
day school  superintendent.  He  is  identified  with  both  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic  of  Kenton,  and  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  at  Hepburn, 
and  in  all  these  organizations  his  influence  and  substantial  support  are 
felt  to  a marked  degree.  He  is  the  author  of  a lecture  on  “Unwritten 
History,”  the  income  from  which,  amounting  to  over  seven  thousand 
dollars,  has  been  given  to  various  churches  and  social  bodies,  including 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  and  the  Woman’s  Relief  Corps. 

Daniel  B.  Heilman  owns  and  occupies  ninety-five  acres  of  valuable 
farm  land  situated  near  the  center  of  Goshen  township,  Hardin  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  is  engaged  in  general  farming.  He  was  born  in  the 
township  in  which  he  now  lives,  September  17,  1867.  of  German  descent, 
and  was  reared  and  educated  here.  His  grandparents,  John  U.  Heil- 
man and  wife  Elizabeth,  nee  Dreite,  were  natives  of  Germany,  the 
former  born  in  1804,  the  latter  in  1808.  They  emigrated  to  this  coun- 
try in  1840,  landing  at  Baltimore.  After  a few  months  spent  in  Penn- 
sylvania they  came  west  to  Ohio  and  settled  first  in  Columbiana  county, 
where  they  remained  until  October,  1848.  At  that  time  he  moved  to 


764 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Ashland  county,  purchased  sixty  acres  of  land,  and  lived  there  until  1861 
when  they  came  to  Goshen  township,  Hardin  county.  Of  their  seven 
children,  five  grew  to  maturity.  While  John  U.  was  a shoemaker  and 
worked  at  his  trade  his  sons  carried  on  farming.  On  coming  to  Goshen 
township  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  and  a little  later  forty  acres 
more.  Afterward,  by  the  aid  of  his  sons,  he  bought  an  additional  tract 
of  land  comprising  one  hundred  and  four  acres,  and  still  later,  through 
the  aid  of  his  two  sons,  John  U.  and  Leonard,  another  tract,  thirty-seven 
acres,  was  added  to  the  farm.  John  U.  Heilman,  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  died  in  1872,  and  his  widow,  in  1880.  Their  son  Leonard,  who 
was  born  in  Germany  the  same  year  the  family  emigrated  to  this  country, 
1840,  was  reared  and  passed  his  life  in  Ohio.  In  Goshen  township, 
Hardin  county,  he  married  Elizabeth  Hile,  who  was  born  in  1843  in 
Pleasant  township,  this  county,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  nine 
children,  namely:  Daniel  B.,  whose  name  introduces  this  sketch;  Minnie, 
deceased;  William,  deceased;  Elmer;  Samuel,  deceased;  George;  Zona, 
deceased ; and  two  that  died  in  early  infancy.  Leonard  Heilman  died 
in  1888,  his  wife  in  1880. 

Daniel  B.  Heilman  was  reared  to  farm  life  and  has  been  engaged 
chiefly  in  agricultural  pursuits.  From  1878  to  1884  he  operated  a 
threshing  machine  and  was  interested  in  the  manufacture  of  tile.  With 
this  exception  his  attention  has  been  devoted  to  farming. 

On  February  23,  1892,  Mr.  Heilman  married  Miss  Amelia  Stoll,  who 
was  born  in  Pleasant  township,  Hardin  county,  August  19,  1870,  daugh- 
ter of  George  and  Amelia  Stoll.  To  them  have  been  born  eight  children : 
Samuel  (deceased),  Bryan,  Ruah,  Calvin,  Arlo,  John,  Freda,  and  Charles 
Iber. 

Mr.  Heilman  has  always  taken  a deep  interest  in  local  affairs,  being 
a stanch  Democrat,  and  has  served  efficiently  in  various  public  offices. 
For  nine  years  he  has  been  a member  of  the  school  board  and,  at  this 
writing  is  a justice  of  the  peace ; also  he  has  filled  the  offices  of  constable 
and  township  supervisor  and  township  treasurer.  He  is  a member  of 
the  Grange  and  of  Marseilles  Lodge,  No.  515,  F.  and  A.  M.,  and  he  and 
his  family  are  worthy  members  of  St.  John’s  Evangelical  church  of 
Goshen  township. 

William  Yauger,  a highly  respected  citizen  of  Goshen  township, 
Hardin  county,  Ohio,  is  one  of  the  oldest  residents  of  the  county.  He 
was  born  in  Marion  county,  this  state,  August  7,  1836,  a son  of  Jacob 
and  Charity  (Albertson)  Yauger,  and  in  that  same  year  was  brought  to 
Hardin  county  by  his  parents.  His  father  and  mother  were  natives 
respectively  of  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey.  Coming  to  Ohio  at  an 
early  day  they  first  settled  in  Marion  county.  He  had  entered  the 
land  in  1835,  and  after  their  removal  to  Hardin  county,  Jacob  Yauger 
built  a log  cabin  and  in  earnest  began  the  work  of  developing  a farm. 
This  primitive  log  cabin  in  time  gave  place  to  one  built  of  hewed  logs, 
and  years  later,  after  the  farm  came  into  possession  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  the  present  residence  was  built.  In  the  pioneer  community 
Jacob  Yauger  was  soon  recognized  as  a man  of  influence  and  was  honored 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


765 


with  official  position.  For  years  he  served  as  a justice  of  the  peace  and 
also  for  a number  of  years  he  was  treasurer  of  Goshen  township.  Relig- 
iously he  was  an  old  school  Baptist,  and  exemplified  in  his  daily  life  the 
teaching's  of  the  faith  he  professed.  He  died  in  1868,  his  widow,  in 
1877.  They  were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  namely:  Rebecca, 

Elem  R.,  Hiram,  John,  William,  Jacob,  Joseph  and  Andrew,  and  of  this 
number  William  is  the  only  survivor. 

William  Yauger  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm,  receiving  a common 
school  education,  and  in  early  life  took  up  the  carpenter’s  trade,  a busi- 
ness he  followed  successfully  for  a period  of  thirty  years.  During  the 
Civil  war  he  was  in  the  government  service  from  March,  1861,  until 
October  of  that  year,  employed  on  work  of  constructing  hospitals  and 
other  buildings  along  the  war  front.  Following  in  the  footsteps  of  his 
honored  father,  he  has  for  years  owned  and  occupied  the  old  home  place, 
and  for  twenty-seven  consecutive  years  has  been  a justice  of  the  peace 
and  during  the  same  length  of  time  has  been  clerk  of  Goshen  township. 
He  is  a member  of  the  Grange  at  Kenton,  and  has  long  been  prominently 
identified  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

In  December,  1863,  Mr.  Yauger  married  Miss  Joanna  Weldon,  a 
native  of  Champaign  county,  Ohio,  and  a daughter  of  Jesse  Weldon. 
They  have  five  children:  Addison.  Edward,  Sophrona,  Jessie  and  Cora. 

Charles  W.  Taylor,  an  excellent  representative  of  the  native  born 
citizens  of  Hardin  county,  is  actively  identified  with  the  promotion  of  the 
agrcultural  prosperity  of  this  section  of  the  state,  being  the  owner  and 
manager  of  a fine  farming  estate  in  Pleasant  township.  A son  of  the 
late  J.  W.  Taylor,  he  was  born,  in  1874,  in  Dunkirk,  where  his  earlier 
>ears  were  passed.  His  grandfather,  Charles  A.  Taylor,  who  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania,  of  Dutch  ancestry,  was  a pioneer  settler  of  Knox 
county.  His  wife,  Mary  A.  Taylor,  was  a native  of  Ireland.  She  bore 
him  five  children,  as  follows:  Samuel,  Caroline,  Millie  L..  Hannah  and 
J.  W. 

Born  and  bred  in  Knox  county,  J.  W.  Taylor  became  a farmer  from 
choice.  When  a young  man  he  enlisted  in  Company  A,  Ninety-sixth 
Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served  his  country  bravely  for  three  years 
and  six  months.  During  that  period  of  service  he  took  an  active  part 
in  forty-three  of  the  most  hardly  contested  engagements  of  the  Civil 
war,  passing  through  each  battle  without  a scratch,  and  at  the  expiration 
of  his  term  of  enlistment  received  his  honorable  discharge  from  the 
army.  In  1870  he  came  with  his  family  to  Hardin  county,  and  having 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Washington  township,  he  was  there 
employed  in  tilling  the  soil  until  his  death,  in  September,  1908.  He 
married  Elizabeth  A.  Lauderbaugh,  who  wTas  born  in  Knox  county, 
Ohio,  and  is  now  living  in  Hardin  county.  Five  children  were  born 
of  their  union,  namely:  Delphia  A.,  wife  of  E.  E.  Jones,  of  Kenton, 

Ohio ; a child  that  died  in  infancy ; Charles  W.,  the  subject  of  this  brief 
biographical  sketch;  Jessie  P. ; and  Mae,  deceased. 

Having  completed  his  early  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Dun- 
kirk, Charles  W.  Taylor  accompanied  his  parents  to  Washington  town- 
Vol.  11—21 


766 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


ship,  and  while  there  assisting  his  father  to  improve  a homestead  gained 
a practical  experience  in  farming  methods.  In  1904  he  purchased  his 
present  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  Pleasant  township,  and  in  its  manage- 
ment is  meeting  with  well  merited  success.  He  takes  great  interest  in 
stock  raising,  and  is  an  extensive  dealer  in  fine  horses,  of  which  he  is  a 
good  judge  and  a superior  manager,  knowing  well  how  to  handle  and 
train  them.  He  is  an  expert  in  the  art  of  dehorning  cattle,  a work  in 
which  he  has  had  much  experience  and  is  very  skillful. 

Mr.  Taylor  married,  on  February  18,  1893,  Arvillie  Yoakam,  who 
was  born,  in  1873,  in  Allen  county,  Ohio,  a daughter  of  C.  G.  and  Harriet 
A.  Yoakam,  of  Dunkirk.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Taylor  have  one  child,  Pearl 
E.  Taylor.  Politically  Mr.  Taylor  is  a stanch  Republican,  and  fra- 
ternally he  belongs  to  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 

Marcus  D.  L.  Mentzer. — A man  of  excellent  financial  and  business 
judgment,  enterprising  and  progressive,  Marcus  D.  L.  Mentzer,  of  Buck 
township,  is  connected  with  one  of  the  leading  industries  of  this  part  of 
Hardin  county,  being  ex-president  and  ex-treasurer  of  the  Mentzer  Clay 
Working  Company,  of  which  he  is  the  controlling  stockholder.  A 
native  of  this  county,  he  was  born,  February  23,  1848.  in  Kenton,  where 
his  father,  Samuel  Mentzer,  was  an  early  and  prominent  settler. 

Samuel  Mentzer  was  born  on  Aiigust  3,  1806.  But  little  is  known 
of  his  early  life.  He  first  visited  Kenton,  Ohio,  in  1834,  coming  here 
from  Maryland  on  horseback.  The  land  in  this  vicinity  was  covered 
with  timber,  and  he  assisted  in  clearing  the  spot  on  which  the  courthouse 
was  erected.  The  following  winter  he  spent  in  Mansfield,  Ohio,  but 
in  the  spring  returned  to  Kenton,  and  for  two  years  was  here  employed 
in  mercantile  pursuits.  He  then  took  a contract  to  build  a section  of 
the  Erie  Canal,  but  the  venture  proved  most  unfortunate,  and  at  the  end 
of  eighteen  months  he  returned  to  his  home  in  Kenton,  poorer  in  pocket 
but  richer  in  experience.  He  subsequently  built  a hotel  on  the  northwest 
corner  of  the  block  immediately  south  of  the  Square,  on  the  present  site 
of  the  Kenton  Savings  Bank.  At  the  end  of  two  years  he  traded  that 
property  for  one  hundred  acres  of  land  on  Wolf  creek,  in  Buck  township, 
and  one  thousand  dollars  in  cash.  Having  first  cleared  an  opening  in 
the  timber,  he  erected  a dwelling  house,  moved  in  with  his  family,  and 
began  the  improvement  of  a farm.  He  succeeded  in  his  undertakings, 
bought  another  one  hundred  and  twenty-two  acres  of  adjoining  land, 
and  was  there  employed  in  tilling  the  soil  until  his  death,  August  10, 
1882.  He  was  for  many  years  active  in  public  affairs,  serving  as  town- 
ship clerk  and  trustee  and  as  county  auditor.  Samuel  Mentzer  was 
three  times  married.  By  his  marriage  with  his  first  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Susan  Lipley,  he  had  three  children,  David,  John  and  Lydia. 
By  his  marriage  with  Elizabeth  Whitman,  his  second  wife,  there  was  one 
child,  who  died  when  small.  He  married  for  his  third  wife  Sophia 
Benjamin,  who  was  born  in  Athens,  Ohio,  a daughter  of  Nathan  and 
Mary  (Nulse)  Benjamin.  Her  paternal  grandparents  settled  in  New 
Jersey  on  coming  to  this  country,  from  there  moving  to  Pennsylvania, 
and  subsequently  locating  as  pioneers  in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio. 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


767 


Her  maternal  grandfather,  John  Nulse,  was  a Scotchman  by  birth,  and 
his  wife  Rebecca  Clendennin,  was  a native  of  Ireland.  Of  his  union 
with  Sophia  Benjamin  five  children  were  born  and  reared,  namely : 
Susan,  Mary,  Louisa,  Marcus  D.  L.  and  William  M. 

Receiving  his  early  education  in  the  pioneer  schools  of  Buck  town- 
ship, Marcus  D.  L.  Mentzer  began  as  a boy  to  assist  his  father  on  the 
home  farm,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years  assumed  its  entire  manage- 
ment. After  his  marriage  he  bought  a tract  of  adjoining  land,  occupied 
it  a few  months,  and  then  returned  to  the  old  homestead,  and  subsequent- 
ly cared  for  his  parents  as  long  as  they  lived.  He  bought  of  his  father 
fifty  acres  of  land,  and  after  the  death  of  his  parents  bought  the  interest 
of  the  remaining  heirs  in  the  home  estate,  and  still  owns  the  entire  tract 
of  two  hundred  and  fourteen  acres. 

In  1893  Mr.  Mentzer  began  the  manufacture  of  brick  tile  on  his 
farm,  and  the  enterprise  proved  so  successful  that  in  1900  he  organized 
the  Mentzer  Clay  Working  Company,  which  bought  twenty  acres  of 
land  of  A.  P.  Snodgrass  in  Buck  township  and  four  acres  of  P.  J.  Dodge, 
and  established  the  present  plant,  which  is  described  elsewhere  in  this 
volume.  Mr.  Mentzer  served  as  president  and  treasurer  of  this 
company  until  1909,  when  his  son  George  was  made  president,  but  Mr. 
M.  D.  L.  Mentzer  is  now  again  the  president.  He  is  the  largest  share 
holder  in  the  company,  owning  two-thirds  of  the  stock. 

Mr.  Mentzer  married,  in  1870,  Rhoda  R.  Smith,  who  was  born  in 
Auglaize  county,  Ohio,  a daughter  of  Garland  Smith.  Three  children 
have  blessed  their  union,  namely : Iona,  Annie  and  George  A.  Iona 

married  Fay  Hisey,  and  has  four  children,  Floy,  George,  Laura  and 
Theodore.  Annie,  wife  of  H.  A.  Swope,  has  three  children,  Maize, 
Natilla  and  Esther.  Idello  died  when  three  years  old.  George  A. 
married  Victoria  Kennedy,  and  they  have  one  child,  Helen  Louise.  Mr. 
Mentzer  has  never  been  out  of  Hardin  county  in  all  his  life  more  than 
one  week.  He  is  a Democrat  in  politics,  and  the  family  are  Methodists 
in  religion. 

Chester  F.  Southard,  proprietor  of  a livery  and  transfer  business 
at  Kenton,  Ohio,  came  here  when  a boy  and  has  since  been  identified  with 
the  town,  occupying  a representative  place  among  the  business  men. 

Mr.  Southard  is  a native  of  Union  county,  Ohio.  He  was  born 
September  22,  1865,  a son  of  Robert  W.  and  Malinda  (Davis)  Southard, 
both  natives  of  that  county.  During  the  Civil  war  his  father  was  three 
years  and  six  months  in  the  Union  army,  a member  of  General  Garfield’s 
regiment.  Forty-second  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  was  a member  of 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  and  also  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 
After  the  war  he  engaged  in  the  livery  business  at  West  Mansfield,  in 
Union  county,  where  he  remained  until  1882,  when  he  came  to  Kenton. 
Here,  in  1883,  he  opened  a livery  business,  which  he  conducted  from  that 
time  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1899,  at  the  age  of  sixty-one 
years.  His  widow  is  still  living  and  makes  her  home  with  their  only 
child,  Chester  F.. 

Chester  F.  Southard  was  sixteen  years  old  when  he  came  with  his 


768 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


parents  to  Kenton.  He  attended  the  Kenton  High  School  and  after- 
ward took  a course  in  commercial  law  and  bookkeeping  at  Ann  Arbor, 
Michigan,  where  he  graduated  in  1887.  That  same  year  he  became  inter- 
ested in  the  livery  business  with  his  father,  continued  with  him  until 
his  death,  and  has  since  conducted  the  business  alone,  meeting  with 
success  in  this  enterprise  and  from  time  to  time  making  investments 
in  other  lines,  including  real  estate. 

In  many  ways  Mr.  Southard  had  been  identified  with  the  best  in- 
terests of  Kenton.  He  served  as  councilman  from  the  Second  ward  and 
three  years  he  was  mayor  of  the  city,  elected  on  the  Republican  ticket. 
He  is  a Mason  of  the  Knight  Templar  degree  and  a member  of  the  Elks 
Lodge,  No.  157. 

On  January  20,  1892,  Mr.  Southard  married  Miss  Maude  Guthrie, 
daughter  of  John  and  Minnie  (Houseman)  Guthrie,  of  Dunkirk,  Hardin 
county,  Ohio,  and  they  have  two  daughters,  Helen  and  Ruth.  They 
lost  a son,  who  died  in  infancy. 

George  S.  Binckley,— One  of  the  highly  respected  and  public- 
spirited  citizens  of  Kenton,  Ohio,  is  G.  S.  Binckley,  now  serving  as  city 
clerk.  Mr.  Binckley  is  a native  of  Perry  county,  Ohio,  and  son  of  George 
W.  Binckley,  who  was  a farmer  in  that  county,  of  which  he  was  himself 
a native.  George  W.  Binckley  was  a prominent  man  in  his  community, 
and  served  twenty-one  years  as  a justice  of  the  peace,  also  served  as 
county  auditor,  and  took  a leading  part  in  public  affairs.  He  spent 
his  declining  years  in  Lancaster,  Ohio,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy-eight  years.  He  was  a life-long  Democrat  and  an  honored 
member  of  the  Masonic  order,  being  a Knight  Templar.  He  was  a son 
of  Jacob  Binckley,  who  came  from  Hagerstown,  Maryland,  and  was  of 
German  descent.  The  latter  died  in  Perry  county  at  the  age  of  forty- 
three  years.  George  W.  Binckley  married  Adeline  Mills,  a native  of 
Virginia,  of  English  descent,  and  she  lived  to  the  age  of  eighty-one 
years.  They  became  the  parents  of  six  daughters  and  four  sons,  of 
whom  four  daughters  and  three  sons  survive.  G.  S.  is  the  third  son 
and  sixth  child. 

The  boyhood  days  of  Mr.  Binckley  were  spent  in  Perry  county  and 
he  received  a common  school  training.  He  received  a good  education 
and  made  the  most  of  his  opportunities  for  the  pursuit  of  knowledge. 
He  taught  school  about  two  years,  and  then  located  at  Kendallville, 
Indiana,  where  for  several  years  he  worked  as  a clerk  in  a general  store. 

In  1871  Mr.  Binckley  married  Caddie  E.  Johnson,  daughter  of  L. 
H.  and  Eunice  J.  (Stephens)  Johnson,  who  was  horn  in  New  York 
state,  and  after  his  marriage  he  located  in  New  Lexington,  Perry  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  was  deputy  county  auditor.  In  1873  he  removed  to 
Kenton,  where  he  remained  a short  time  and  then  located  in  Indiana, 
where  he  lived  several  years,  being  employed  as  traveling  salesman. 
In  1878  Mr.  Binckley  returned  to  Kenton,  and  was  employed  as  book- 
keeper for  the  hardware  firm  of  Cantwell  & Company,  with  whom  he 
remained  three  years.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  engaged  in  the  drug 
business  with  his  brother,  Dr.  J.  W.  Binckley,  this  partnership  continu- 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


769 


ing  six  years  and  then  Mr.  Binckley  sold  his  interest  and  became 
associated  with  the  First  National  Bank  as  cashier.  He  is  an  enter- 
prising, wide-awake  business  man,  possessed  of  good  judgment  and  high 
principle,  having  the  entire  confidence  of  all  who  know  him.  In  1898 
Mr.  Binckley  was  a candidate  for  probate  judge  on  the  Democratic 
ticket.  In  1889  he  went  into  partnership  with  Thomas  J.  Cantwell 
(deceased)  in  the  hardware  business,  and  this  continued  eleven  years. 
Mr.  Binckley  was  again  engaged  in  the  drug  business  for  a time  and  also 
worked  again  as  traveling  salesman.  He  was  elected  to  his  present 
office  January  1,  1908,  and  he  fulfills  the  duties  of  the  post  with  the 
same  careful  consideration  and  attention  he  has  always  accorded 
his  private  affairs.  He  is  an  ardent  Democrat,  and  has  performed 
valuable  service  in  the  interests  of  the  party.  He  is  public-spirited 
and  intelligent  in  understanding  the  needs  of  the  city,  and  is  interested 
in  every  movement  for  the  welfare  and  progress  of  the  community. 
Mr.  Binckley  is  well  known,  and  has  a large  circle  of  friends.  He  is 
a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  of  Lodge  No.  157, 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 

George  Pfeiffer,  a well  known  farmer  of  Goshen  township.  Hardin 
county,  Ohio,  is  a representative  of  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  this 
county.  His  grandfather,  Michael  Pfeiffer,  was  born  in  Hesse-Cassel, 
Germany,  in  1783,  and  emigrated  to  this  country  in  1832.  In  1835 
he  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  wild  land  in  Goshen  township, 
for  which  he  paid  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  an  acre,  and  here  he  spent 
the  rest  of  his  life  and  died,  his  death  occurring  June  5,  1869,  at  the  age 
of  eighty-six  years.  His  wife,  Kenitor  (Elf)  Pfeiffer,  died  in  Germany, 
May  3,  1837.  Their  children  were  Adam,  Henry,  John  A.,  Peter, 
Michael,  John  G.,  Elizabeth  and  Barbara.  One  son,  Michael,  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Civil  war.  The  son  John  A.  was  the  father  of  George. 
He  was  born  in  Germany  in  1808,  and  died  in  Hardin  county  in  1876; 
and  his  wife,  Sophia  Pfeiffer,  was  born  iu  1811,  and  died  in  1856.  Their 
children  in  order  of  birth  are  as  follows:  Elizabeth,  deceased;  John, 
deceased ; Peter,  deceased ; George,  Louis  and  Adam.  John  A.  Pfeiffer 
had  five  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Goshen  township,  four  hundred  of 
which  were  improved  during  his  life  time. 

Here,  in  1843,  amid  pioneer  scenes,  George  Pfeiffer  was  born,  and 
here  he  was  reared  and  educated  and  has  always  lived.  He  well  remem- 
bers when  wild  game  was  plentiful  in  this  section  of  the  country  and 
when  his  father  sent  him  to  ‘ ‘ drive  the  deer  out  of  the  wheat  field.  ’ ’ 
He  recalls  that  at  one  time  he  chased  seven  deer  from  his  father’s  field. 
There  were  also  plenty  of  wolves,  bears  and  wild  turkeys.  Since  1874 
he  has  owned  and  occupied  his  fine  farm  of  two  hundred  acres.  Its 
commodious  and  comfortable  dwelling,  its  well  constructed  out-buildings 
and  its  scientifically  cultivated  fields  are  all  the  result  of  his  well- 
directed  efforts. 

On  April  7,  1870,  Mr.  Pfeiffer  married  Miss  Mary  Hile,  daughter 
of  Nicholas  and  Elizabeth  Hile;  they  have  seven  children,  and  at  this 
writing  their  grandchildren  number  three.  The  children  in  order  of 


770 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


birth  are:  Ida  (Mrs.  J.  G.  Bloom)  ; Nettie;  Dora  (Mrs.  E.  J.  Carey)  ; 
Jessie;  Charles;  Edna(  Mrs.  Carr);  and  Elsie.  Mrs.  Pfeiffer  was 
born  in  Goshen  township,  February  12,  1848,  one  of  a family  of  seven 
children,  as  follows:  Margaret,  Elizabeth  (deceased),  Daniel  (deceased), 
Mary,  Minnie  (deceased),  George,  and  John  deceased.  Their  father 
emigrated  to  this  country  from  Germany  about  1837  and  made  settle- 
ment in  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  where  he  entered  one  hundred  acres  of 
land  and  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  more.  At  the  time  of  his 
death  in  1884  he  was  the  owner  of  three  hundred  and  eighteen  acres. 
His  wife’s  death  occurred  in  1875.  Mr.  Pfeiffer  is  one  of  the  leading 
Democrats  of  this  part  of  Hardin  county.  He  and  his  family  are 
members  of  St.  John’s  Evangelical  church  of  Kenton. 

Eddie  G.  Thompson,  of  Goshen  township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  is 
a representative  of  one  of  the  old  pioneer  families  of  Hardin  county. 
David  Thompson,  his  great-grandfather,  was  a Virginian  who  came  west 
to  Ohio  in  1832  and  settled  in  Hardin  county.  In  1834  he  purchased 
a farm  of  Champness  Terry  in  Goshen  township,  which  has  since  been 
in  the  family,  having  passed  to  his  son  David  and  later  to  his  grandson, 
also  named  David.  The  first  David  Thompson  married  Nancy  Anderson, 
and  the  children  of  their  union  were  Ann,  Martha,  James,  John,  Jacob 
and  David.  Their  third  born  died  in  infancy,  unnamed. 

The  youngest  of  the  children  above  named,  David,  was  the  grand- 
father of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He  was  twice  married.  In  1852 
he  wedded  Margaret  Shriner,  who  bore  him  nine  children : Eleanor, 
Frank,  Anna  M.,  Albert,  Henry  W.,  Louis  M.,  Nora,  David  and  James. 
In  1872  he  married  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Bates,  and  three  children  were  born 
to  them : Mary  A.,  George  PI.  and  David  D.,  of  whom  only  the  last 
named  is  living.  The  father  was  a soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  serving 
as  a member  of  Company  A,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-third  Ohio  Vol- 
unteer Infantry,  of  which  his  brother  John  also  was  a member.  David 
Thompson  had  a large  tract  of  land  lying  in  Hardin  and  Wyandot 
counties,  and  at  his  death  left  to  each  of  his  children  eighty  acres. 

Frank  Thompson,  the  second  born  of  David’s  children  was  the 
father  of  Eddie  G.  He  was  born  in  Wyandot  county,  Ohio,  January 
1,  1856,  and  died  December  8,  1895.  He  married  Miss  Harriet  James, 
who  was  born  in  Noble  county,  Ohio,  in  1855,  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  three  children : Flora  E.,  Eddie  G.  and  Omer  J. 

Eddie  G.  Thompson  was  born  November  9,  1880,  in  the  township 
in  which  he  now  lives,  and  where  he  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  practical 
farmers  of  his  section  of  the  country.  He  owns  and  operates  eighty 
acres  of  choice  land,  and  he  is  a Republican  in  politics. 

On  April  2,  1902,  Mr.  Thompson  married  Miss  Birtie  Hamilton, 
who  was  born  in  Goshen  township,  Hardin  county,  September  12,  1886, 
a daughter  of  James  and  Annie  Hamilton,  and  they  have  three  children : 
Mabel  M.,  James  F.  and  Ray. 

Benton  K.  Jones,  M.  D.,  of  Kenton,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Washington 
township,  in  the  county  in  which  he  lives,  March  2,  1858,  and  on  his 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


771 


paternal  side  is  of  Welsh  descent.  His  grandfather,  John  Jones,  a native 
of  New  Jersey,  came  to  Ohio  in  the  early  history  of  this  state  and 
settled  in  Knox  county,  where  he  made  his  home  until  1850,  when  he 
moved  to  Hardin  county.  Here  he  spent  the  closing  years  of  his  life, 
and  died  at  about  the  age  of  seventy.  The  Doctor’s  great-grandmother 
Jones  was  before  her  marriage  a Miss  Wolf,  she  being  a cousin  of  General 
Wolf,  of  historic  fame.  John  Morgan  Jones,  the  Doctor’s  father,  was 
born  in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  in  1832,  and  in  1850  came  with  his  father’s 
family  to  Hardin  county.  Here  he  met  and  married  Miss  Elizabeth 
M.  Gillen,  who  was  bom  in  New  Jersey  in  1836  and  who  had  come  with 
her  parents  from  that  state  to  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  the  same  year  the 
Jones  family  took  up  their  residence  in  this  county.  Her  father 
returned  to  New  Jersey  to  look  after  their  household  goods  that  had  been 
shipped,  and  was  never  again  heard  of.  After  their  marriage,  which 
occurred  in  1855,  John  Morgan  Jones  and  wife  settled  on  a farm  in 
Washington  township  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  until  the  close 
of  the  war,  when  he  moved  to  Blanchard  township  to  a farm  in  the 
southwest  corner  of  the  township,  where  he  lived  until  1880,  when  he 
bought  and  moved  to  the  Herrick  farm  in  the  northeast  corner  of  the 
township  where  he  lived  until  within  five  years  of  the  time  of  his  death, 
when  he  retired  and  moved  to  Kenton.  He  died  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
five.  For  a number  of  years  he  was  a justice  of  the  peace.  Religiously 
he  was  a Methodist,  a consistent  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  for  many  years.  His  widow  is  still  living.  To  them  were 
born  nine  children,  two  daughters  and  seven  sons,  the  number  including 
three  pairs  of  twins,  namely : Sarah  Caroline,  who  died  at  the  age  of 

seventeen  years;  Benton  K.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  E.  E.  and  Ella 
J.,  twins;  Christopher  and  Charles  F.,  twins;  U.  0.  and  A.  M.,  twins; 
and  John  M.  The  last  named  is  now  a resident  of  Lincoln,  Nebraska. 

Benton  K.  Jones  was  reared  on  his  father’s  farm  and  received  his 
early  training  in  the  district  school.  When  he  was  seventeen  he  attended 
for  a time  the  Kenton  school  and  afterward  entered  Ada  University, 
now  the  Ohio  Northern  University,  where  he  pursued  his  studies,  and  still 
later  he  went  to  Cincinnati  and  took  a course  in  medicine,  graduating 
there  in  1888.  In  the  meantime  he  clerked  in  a dry  goods  store  in 
Springfield,  Ohio,  and  taught  country  school,  thus  paving  his  way  to 
professional  life.  After  his  graduation,  he  entered  upon  the  practice 
of  medicine  at  Kenton,  and  has  since  continued  here.  With  the  passing 
years  he  has  kept  pace  with  the  progress  made  in  the  science  of  medicine. 
In  1894  he  took  a post  graduate  course  in  special  surgery,  in  Chicago, 
and  in  1899  a post  graduate  course  in  the  New  York  Post  Graduate 
School.  AVhile  in  Cincinnati  he  took  special  work  on  the  subject  of 
the  eye  and  ear.  Like  all  up-to-date  physicians  and  surgeons  Dr.  Jones 
has  identified  hihftelf  with  various  medical  organizations.  Pie  has 
membership  in  the  N.  W.  State  Medical,  the  Ohio  Sta,te  Medical,  the 
0.  C.,  E.  M.  A.  and  the  N.  E.  Medical  Associations.  In  1897  he  was 
president  of  the  State  Medical  Association,  and  two  terms  he  was  coroner 
of  Hardin  county. 

In  1883  Dr.  Jones  married  Miss  Alice  M.  Fredrick,  daughter  of 


HISTORY  OF  ITARDIN  COUNTY 


772 

William  and  Sarah  Fredrick  of  Hardin  county.  They  have  two  sons 
and  two  daughters:  William  Clay,  Paul  Frederick,  Maude  and  Marie  E. 
Following  in  the  footsteps  of  his  father,  William  Clay  chose  the  profes- 
sion of  medicine,  and  is  engaged  in  practice  with  his  father.  He  is  a 
graduate  of  the  Kenton  High  School,  the  Ohio  State  University  and  the 
P.  H.  G.  M.  D.,  and  is  a member  of  the  E.  M.  A. 

The  senior  Dr.  Jones  is  a Knight  Templar  Mason,  an  Odd  Fellow 
and  a Knight  of  Pythias. 

George  Stoll. — The  native  born  citizens  of  Pleasant  township, 
Hardin  county,  have  no  more  worthy  representative  than  George  Stoll, 
who  holds  a noteworthy  position  among  the  practical,  progressive  and 
business-like  farmers  who  are  so  ably  conducting  the  extensive  agricul- 
tural interests  of  this  section  of  the  state.  He  was  born  on  the  farm 
he  now  owns  and  occupies  February  21,  1836,  in  the  log  house  erected 
by  his  father,  Coonrod  Stoll,  coming  from  thrifty  German  ancestry. 

Coonrod  Stoll  was  born,  reared  and  married  in  Germany.  Emi- 
grating to  this  country  in  1833,  he  came  to  Ohio  in  search  of  cheap 
land.  Locating  in  Pleasant  township,  Hardin  county,  he  bought  eighty 
acres  of  timber  land,  paying  the  government  price  of  two  dollars  and 
fifty  cents  an  acre  for  the  tract,  subsequently  working  by  the  day  to 
get  the  money  to  pay  for  it.  By  means  of  untiring  industry  and  thrift 
he  succeeded  in  paying  off  all  of  his  indebtedness  within  a comparatively 
few  years,  and  in  course  of  time  had  a well  improved  and  productive 
property.  The  log  house  which  he  built  and  in  which  his  six  older 
children  were  born  was  replaced  by  a frame  building,  and  good  barns 
and  outbuildings  were  erected.  Here  he  was  prosperously  employed 
as  a tiller  of  the  soil  until  his  death,  in  May,  1865.  His  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Amelia  Rader,  was  born  in  Germany,  and  died  in 
Pleasant  township,  Hardin  county,  in  1887.  Eight  children  were  born 
of  their  union,  as  follows:  George;  Elizabeth,  deceased;  Casper;  Mary, 
deceased;  Millie,  deceased;  Eliza;  Margaret;  and  John. 

Reared  and  educated  in  Pleasant  township,  George  Stoll  spent  eight 
years  of  his  earlier  life  in  California,  but  was  not  well  enough  pleased 
with  his  prospects  of  a prosperous  future  to  remain  on  the  Pacific 
coast.  Returning  to  the  scenes  of  his  childhod,  he  turned  his  attention 
to  farming,  and  in  due  course  of  time  succeeded  to  the  ownership  of 
the  parental  acres.  Devoting  his  attention  to  its  care,  Mr.  Stoll  has 
made  substantial  and  essential  improvements,  the  place  now  comparing 
favorably  in  its  appointments  with  any  in  the  vicnity.  He  is  a man 
of  keen  foresight  and  enterprise,  and  has,  evidently,  a thorough  under- 
standing of  the  best  methods  of  so  conducting  his  business  as  to  secure 
the  most  profitable  results.  He  has  made  judicious  investments  and 
owns  in  addition  to  the  old  homestead  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of 
land  in  Washington  township,  Hardin  county. 

Mr.  Stoll  married,  in  October,  1869,  Amelia  Reise,  who  was  born, 
June  26,  1837,  in  Kohessen,  Germany,  and  came  to  this  country  in  1867. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stoll  are  the  parents  of  five  children,  namely : Amelia, 

who  married  G.  B.  Heilman,  has  seven  children,  Samuel,  Bryan,  Rush, 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


773 


Calvin,  Arlo,  Freda  and  John ; Julia,  the  wife  of  G.  E.  Carruthers,  has 
two  children,  Emma  and  Alice;  Philip  married  Emma  Flinn,  and  they 
have  two  children,  William  E.  and  John  C. ; Mary,  deceased;  and  Wil- 
liam, who  married  Electa  Haines,  by  whom  he  has  one  child,  Kenneth. 
John  W.  Flinn,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Philip  Stoll,  enlisted  in  defense  of 
his  country  in  1861,  becoming  a private  in  the  Eighty-second  Ohio  Vol- 
unteer Infantry,  and  at  the  end  of  his  term  of  enlistments  re-enlisted, 
becoming  a member  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-first  Ohio  Volunteer 
Infantry,  with  which  he  was  associated  until  the  close  of  the  war,  taking 
an  active  part  in  many  important  engagements.  He  married  Catherine 
Foults.  Mr.  Stoll  and  his  family  are  faithful  and  valued  members  of 
Saint  John’s  Evangelical  church  at  Kenton. 

Henry  W.  Scott,  one  of  the  successful  farmers  of  Hardin  county, 
Ohio,  was  born  in  Warren  county,  this  state,  May  25,  1855,  a son  of 
Richard  and  Margaret  (Lynn)  Scott.  When  he  was  five  years  old 
his  parents  moved  to  Putnam  county  and  settled  on  a farm,  and  there 
Henry  W.  was  reared  and  received  a district-school  education.  From 
the  time  he  was  seventeen  until  he  was  married  he  worked  as  a farm 
hand.  Then  he  rented  land  for  two  or  three  years,  after  which  the 
father  and  father-in-law  gave  to  the  young  couple  an  eighty-acre  tract 
of  timber  land.  Moving  to  this  place,  he  directed  his  energies  toward 
the  work  of  clearing  and  improving  it,  and  later  traded  it  for  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  of  other  land.  In  the  spring  of  1892  he  moved 
to  Hardin  county,  where  in  time  he  acquired  no  less  than  four  hundred 
acres.  As  his  sons  have  married  he  has  divided  with  them  and  assisted 
them  in  establishing  homes  of  their  own ; and  he  retains  two  hundred 
acres,  on  which  he  is  engaged  in  general  farming  and  raising  hogs  and 
cattle. 

Mr.  Scott  married  in  1875  Miss  Mary  E.  Beam,  who  was  born  in 
Putnam  county,  Ohio,  in  April.  1857,  a daughter  of  Amos  and  Mary 
(Burkhart)  Beam,  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Scott 
seven  children  have  been  born,  namely : Amos,  Samuel,  Earl,  Pearl, 
Otto,  Cloyd  and  Carrie.  Samuel  married  Miss  Maud  Witham,  Earl 
married  Miss  Nora  Sheller,  Pearl  is  the  wife  of  Finley  Huston,  and 
Otto  married  Miss  Effie  Shiveley.  The  other  children  are  at  home. 

Mr.  Scott  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Radical  United  Breth- 
ren church,  in  which  he  has  served  as  class  leader  and  trustee.  While 
he  has  never  taken  an  active  part  in  politics  he  has  always  voted  con- 
scientiously, supporting  the  man  rather  than  the  party,  but  has  strongly 
favored  the  Prohibitionists. 

Bernard  Dowd,  is  widely  known  as  a prosperous  agriculturist  of 
Pleasant  township  and  is  numbered  among  the  citizens  of  good  repute 
and  high  standing  in  Hardin  county,  where  the  larger  part  of  his  life 
has  been  passed.  He  was  born  in  1866,  in  Champaign  county,  Ohio, 
a son  of  the  late  Thomas  Dowd. 

Coming  with  his  family  from  Champaign  county,  Ohio,  to  Hardin 
county  in  1866.  Thomas  Dowd  purchased  fifty-two  acres  of  wild  land. 


774 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


and  in  an  open  space  soon  erected  a log  house,  which  he  occupied  several 
years.  Working  with  a well-directed  purpose,  he  subsequently  cleared 
and  improved  a productive  farm,  on  which  he  erected  substantial  build- 
ings, and  was  there  employed  in  his  chosen  occupation  until  his  death, 
in  1884.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Mary  Tully,  survived  him 
more  than  a score  of  years,  passing  away  in  1907.  Nine  children  blessed 
their  union,  namely:  Maggie;  Daniel;  Nellie;  Mary;  Bernard;  Anna, 
deceased;  Michael;  Jane  and  Theresa. 

Brought  by  his  parents  to  Hardin  county  in  infancy,  Bernard  Dowd 
was  here  brought  up  and  educated.  As  a boy  he  attended  the  district 
school,  and  on  the  home  farm  became  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the 
various  branches  of  agriculture.  Beginning  life  for  himself,  he  chose 
for  his  life  work  the  occupation  to  which  he  had  been  reared,  and  in 
1899  bought  the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides.  It  contains  eighty 
acres  of  rich  productive  land,  on  which  he  has  valuable  improvements, 
his  comfortable  residence  being  tastefully  furnished,  while  his  ample 
barns  are  well  stocked  and  conveniently  arranged.  In  addition  to  his 
home  estate  Mr.  Dowd  owns  thirty-six  acres  of  choice  land  in  another 
part  of  Pleasant  township.  In  his  operations  he  has  invariably  met  with 
success,  his  earnest  and  judicious  labors  being  well  rewarded. 

Mr.  Dowd  married,  in  1900,  Ida  C.  Bookmyer,  who  was  born  at 
Clyde,  Ohio,  in  1872,  a daughter  of  John  and  Harriet  Bookmyer,  and 
into  their  happy  household  four  children  have  been  born,  namely ; 
Lawrence,  Henrietta,  Mary  G,  and  Irma  C.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dowd  are 
genial,  agreeable  people,  enjoying  to  the  utmost  the  esteem  and  con- 
fidence of  their  many  friends  and  neighbors,  and  are  worthy  members 
of  the  Roman  Catholic  church. 

IT.  J.  Scullin,  a successful  hardware  and  agricultural  implement 
dealer  of  Roundhead,  Ohio,  was  born  near  Bolivar,  Tuscarawas  county, 
Ohio,  November  6,  1847,  a son  of  Henry  and  Mary  (Smells)  Scullin. 
Henry  Scullin  was  born  in  Ireland,  was  a soldier  in  the  queen’s  army, 
and  was  sent  to  Canada.  He  came  across  the  line  from  Canada  into  the 
United  States  at  Detroit.  He  was  afterwards  married  at  Akron,  Ohio. 
He  finally  settled  in  Zanesville,  Ohio,  where  he  died  in  1852.  He  worked 
in  a soap  and  candle  factory.  Mr.  Scullin  was  the  father  of  three 
children,  viz:  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Hiram  Stocker;  Margaret,  wife  of 
Milton  Martin,  of  Akron,  Ohio ; and  Henry  J. 

After  the  death  of  Henry  Scullin  his  widow  married  again,  and 
II.  J.  Scullin  remained  on  the  home  farm,  working  through  the  summer 
and  attending  school  winters,  until  the  age  of  sixteen  years.  On  Febru- 
ary 24,  1864,  he  enlisted  in  Company  A,  Fifty-first  Ohio,  and  served 
under  Sherman  from  Chattanooga  to  Atlanta,  then  served  under  General 
Thomas  at  Franklin  and  Nashville.  He  went  to  Victoria,  Texas,  and 
was  mustered  out  October  3,  1865,  being  discharged  at  Columbus,  Ohio, 
November  30,  1865.  Returning  to  his  native  county,  he  returned 
with  his  stepfather  to  Auglaize  county  and  worked  four  years  on  a farm. 
He  then  went  to  the  eastern  part  of  the  state  and  was  for  a time  engaged 
in  mining  business. 


AUSTIN  S.  McKITRICK 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


775 


On  August  10,  1870,  Mr.  Scullin  married  Mary  I.  Stewart,  and 
returned  to  Auglaize  county,  where  he  rented  a farm.  Later  he  pur- 
chased eighteen  acres,  which  he  sold  and  purchased  forty  acres,  which 
in  turn  he  sold  and  then  bought  one  hundred  acres,  which  he  sold,  and 
then  located  in  Roundhead,  on  April  10,  1901,  buying  the  corner  where 
he  is  now  located.  He  engaged  in  the  hardware  and  implement  business, 
and  lias  built  up  a good  trade.  He  carries  a good  stock  of  goods,  and 
in  his  business  dealings  displays  good  business  principles  and  excellent 
judgment.  He  has  won  the  respect  and  confidence  of  his  fellows,  and 
is  well  liked.  Politically  Mr.  Scullin  is  a Repubican  and  served  two 
terms  as  trustee ; he  is  also  serving  his  second  term  as  township  treasurer. 
He  is  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Roundhead  and 
one  of  its  trustees.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

Eight  children  were  born  to  Mr.  Scullin  and  his  wife,  of  whom  all 
survive,  namely : Ella,  wife  of  Charles  Stokes,  of  Lima ; Maggie,  wife  of 
Benjamin  Miley,  of  Wapakoneta,  Ohio ; Tillie,  wife  of  William  Miley,  of 
Roundhead ; Henry,  unmarried ; Howard,  who  married  Blanch  Murphy, 
of  Bell  Center,  Ohio ; George,  who  married  Feme  Hobensack,  and  lives 
in  New  Hamsphire,  Ohio ; Carl,  unmarried ; and  Logan,  who  married 
Nellie  Smith  and  lives  at  Lima,  Ohio. 

Austin  S.  McKitrick,  M.  D.— A physician  and  surgeon  of  skill  and 
ability,  Austin  S.  McKitrick,  M.  D.,  of  Kenton,  is  widely  recognized  as 
one  of  the  leading  members  of  the  medical  fraternity  of  Hardin  county. 
A son  of  Harvey  Smith  McKitrick,  he  was  born,  October  8,  1863,  at 
Plain  City,  Union  county,  Ohio,  coming  on  the  paternal  side  from  Scotch 
ancestry,  and  on  the  maternal  side  from  substantial  New  England  stock. 

His  great-grandfather,  John  McKitrick,  is  supposed  to  have  been 
born,  reared  and  married  in  Scotland.  On  emigrating  to  America,  he 
located  first  in  York  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  served,  it  is  said,  in  the 
Revolutionary  war.  He  subsequently  became  a pioneer  settler  of 
Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  there,  presumably,  spent  his 
remaining  days.  He  was  twice  married,  and  reared  seven  children,  one 
of  whom,  James,  was  the  next  in  line  of  descent. 

James  McKitrick,  born  October  22,  1781,  in  York  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, was  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  soon  after  attaining  his 
majority  began  life  for  himself  on  Virginia  soil,  settling  in  that  state 
on  land  just  across  the  line  from  Pennsylvania.  Migrating  to  Ohio  in 
1807,  he  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Newark,  where  he  became  a land 
owner.  He  afterwards  removed  to  Delaware  county,  where  he  resided 
until  his  death,  in  1874.  He  married  Mary  Smith,  who  was  born,  in 
1786,  in  Virginia,  of  German  ancestry  on  her  mother’s  side,  and  whose 
parents  came  to  Knox  county,  Ohio,  after  her  marriage.  She  died  in 
1846.  Of  the  twelve  children  born  of  their  union,  eleven  grew  to  years 
of  maturity,  married,  and  reared  families. 

Harvey  S.  McKitrick  was  born  in  Newark,  Ohio,  April  23,  1822,  and 
became  a farmer  from  choice.  Purchasing  land  near  Plain  City,  he  was 
there  profitably  engaged  in  tilling  the  soil  until  his  death,  when  in  the 


776 


PTISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


seventieth  year  of  his  age.  He  married  Harriet  C.  Hjemenway,  who  was 
born  in  Bridgeport,  Vermont,  a daughter  of  Farmary  Piemen  way,  and  a 
descendant  in  the  seventh  generation  of  Ralph  Hemenway,  of  England, 
her  lineage  being  thus  traced:  Ralph,  Joshua,  Ebenezer,  Daniel,  Daniel, 
Farmary,  and  Harriet  C.  Ralph  Hemenway,  the  emigrant  ancestor, 
was  born,  it  is  supposed,  in  Yorkshire,  England,  and  in  1634  was  a 
resident  of  Roxbury,  Massachusetts,  where,  on  July  5,  of  that  year,  he 
married  Elizabeth  Hewes.  In  the  records  of  that  town  he  is  mentioned 
as  having  been  active  in  public  affairs,  and  in  1638  was  recorded  as  one 
of  the  largest  landholders  and  tax  payers.  His  wife’s  brother,  Joshua 
Hewes,  was  likewise  one  of  the  wealthy  men  of  Roxbury.  Ralph 
Hemenway  died  in  1678,  at  a ripe  old  age.  Ralph’s  son,  Joshua  Hemen- 
way, born  in  Roxbury,  Massachusetts,  in  1644,  married  for  his  second 
wife  Mary  , of  Dorchester,  Massachusetts,  and  soon  after- 

wards moved  to  Farmingham,  Massachusetts,  where  his  death  occurred, 
in  1717,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years. 

Ebenezer  Hemenway,  the  next  in  line  of  descent,  born  in  Framing- 
ham, Middlesex  county,  Massachusetts,  in  1681,  was  as  far  as  known  a 
life-long  resident  of  that  town.  He  married  first  Hannah  Winch,  and 
the  line  was  continued  through  their  son,  Daniel  Hemenway,  who  was 
born,  in  1719,  in  Framingham,  and  in  early  manhood  settled  in  Shrews- 
bury, Worcester  county,  Massachusetts.  He  was  a carpenter  and 
builder  by  trade,  erected  many  buildings  of  note,  among  them  being  a 
church  in  Shrewsbury,  and  one  in  Worcester.  He  was  noted  for  his 
patriotism  during  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  was  a delegate  to  the 
convention  that  framed  the  Constitution  of  Massachusetts.  He  was 
one  of  the  patentees  of  the  town  of  Shoreham,  Vermont,  and  made 
several  visits  to  that  place,  and  to  Bridgeport,  Vermont.  He  died  in 
Shrewsbury,  in  1794.  Of  his  union  with  his  first  wife,  Ruth  Bigelow, 
eight  children  were  born,  and  by  his  second  union  he  had  one  child. 

Daniel  Plemenway,  Jr.,  the  next  in  line  of  descent,  was  born  in 
Shrewsbury,  Massachusetts,  in  1745,  being  the  second  son  of  his  parents. 
He  served  as  a soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  afterwards  settled 
on  a farm  in  Barre,  where  he  spent  his  last  years,  and  his  homestead  is 
still  owned  by  his  descendants.  In  the  Revolution,  he  was  a member  of 
Captain  Benjamin  Nye’s  company,  Colonel  Nathan  Sparhawk’s  regi- 
ment. in  which  he  enlisted  August  21,  1777,  and  immediately  marched 
to  Bennington,  Vermont,  to  reinforce  General  Stark.  He  married  Mary 
Carroll,  and  they  reared  ten  children. 

Farmarv  Hemenway  was  born  in  Barre,  Worcester  county,  Massa- 
chusetts, March  25,  1786,  and  when  a young  man  removed  to  Vermont, 
where  he  followed  the  trade  of  a miller.  Migrating  to  Ohio  in  1833,  he 
settled  near  Plain  City,  where  he  operated  a grist  mill  for  many  years. 
He  died  there  in  1867.  He  was  three  times  married.  He  married 
first,  in  1810,  in  Vermont,  Rebecca  Hemenway,  who  died  the  following 
year,  leaving  one  daughter.  He  married  second  Mrs.  Mehitable  (Rand) 
Knowlton,  a daughter  of  Jasper  Rand,  of  Shrewsbury,  Massachusetts, 
who  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war  under  Captain  John  Maynard  and 
Colonel  Job  Cushing,  marching  with  his  regiment  to  Bennington, 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


777 


Vermont,  during  the  battle  there  in  progress.  She  died  quite  awhile 

before  he  did,  having  borne  him  nine  children.  He  subsequently  mar- 

ried a.  third  wife. 

Of  the  union  of  Harvey  S.  and  Harriet  C.  (Hemenway)  McKitrick 
five  children  were  reared,  namely : Dr.  S.  C.,  a.  physician  at  Tabor, 

Iowa,  with  whom  the  widowed  mother  now  lives;  George  L.,  a miner  and 
rancher  in  Arizona;  Viola  Wells  Smith  of  Plain  City;  Leslie  W.,  en- 
gaged in  farming  near  Jerome,  Ohio ; and  Austin  S.,  M.  D.,  of  this 
sketch. 

After  finishing  the  course  of  study  in  the  public  schools  of  Union 
county,  Austin  S.  McKitrick  entered  the  Ohio  Normal  University,  now 
the  Ohio  Northern  University,  at  Ada,  where  he  was  graduated  with  the 
class  of  1886.  He  subsequently  began  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr. 
J.  E.  Ilerriott,  of  Jerome,  and  in  1888  was  graduated  from  the  Eclectic 
Medical  Institute  of  Cincinnati.  He  began  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  remaining  there  two  years.  In  1890  Dr. 
McKitrick  located  in  Kenton,  and  later  was  graduated  from  the  College 
of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  in  Cleveland.  Wishing  to  further  perfect 
himself  in  his  profession-,  the  doctor  took  a post  graduate  course,  in  1903, 
at  the  Chicago  Clinical  College.  He  has  made  a special  study  of 
surgery,  becoming  especially  proficient  in  this  branch  of  his  profession, 
being  not  only  skillful,  but  swift  and  sure. 

On  April  3.  1889,  Dr.  McKitrick  married  May  Donaldson,  who  was 
born  in  Greenwich.  Huron  county,  Ohio,  April  26,  1866,  and  had  gradu- 
ated at  the  Ohio  Northern  JTniversity  in  1886.  She  is  a daughter  of 
John  H.  Donaldson,  and  a descendant  in  the  sixth  generation  from  one 
Andrew  Donaldson,  the  founder  in  America  of  the  family  to  which  she 
belongs.  Andrew  Donaldson,  the  emigrant  ancestor,  was  either  a native 
of  Scotland,  or  was  born  in  Ireland  of  Scotch  ancestry.  He  was  living 
in  the  Juniata  valley,  Pennsylvania,  in  1749.  He,  with  other  Scotch 
settlers,  refused  to  pay  rents  to  the  proprietors  of  Pennsylvania  on  the 
grounds  that  they  had  bought  the  lands  of  the  Indians.  They  were 
warned  off.  and  their  cottages  burned.  They  erected  new  cabins,  and 
held  their  lands.  Moses  Donaldson,  the  next  ancestor,  owned  land  in 
Huntingdon  county,  Pennsylvania.  In  1778  his  first  wife,  and  two 
of  their  children,  were  massacred  by  the  Indians,  who  were  incited  to 
the  deed  by  English  rewards  offered  for  patriot  scalps.  He  married 
a second  wife,  and  continued  his  residence  in  that  county  until  his 
death.  He  was  a charter  member  and  an  elder  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
church  at  Huntingdon,  Pennsylvania. 

His  son,  Andrew  Donaldson,  the  succeeding  ancestor,  was  a lad  of 
eight  years  when  his  mother  was  massacred.  He  married  Rebecca 
Smart,  a daughter  of  William  Smart,  of  Huntingdon  county,  and  located 
in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania.  Subsequently  coming  with  his 
family  to  Ohio,  he  settled  near  Mansfield,  Richland  county,  and  there 
spent  his  remaining  years.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were  faithful  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

Joseph  Donaldson,  Mrs.  McKitrick ’s  grandfather,  and  the  next  in 
line  of  descent,  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  April  4, 


778 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


1808.  He  chose  the  occupation  of  a farmer,  and  was  engaged  in  tilling 
the  soil  during  his  active  life.  He  moved,  in  1863,  to  Indiana,  and 
spent  his  last  years  near  Fort  Wayne.  He  married  Sarah  Gordon 
Matthews,  a daughter  of  Rev.  William  and  Mary  (Maxwell)  Matthews. 
Her  grandfather,  Deacon  William  Matthews,  was  born  in  County  Down, 
Ireland,  and  after  coming  to  America  joined  the  Continental  Army,  and 
served  three  years  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  married  Rachel  Gor- 
don, and  settled,  in  1804,  in  Kinsman,  Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  where 
he  was  a pillar  in  the  Presbyterian  church  during  his  remaining  years. 
Rev.  William  Matthews  was  the  first  Presbyterian  missionary  to  the 
Wyandotte  Indians  at  Upper  Sandusky. 

John  H.  Donaldson,  Mrs.  McKitrick’s  father,  was  born,  February 
24,  1834,  in  Richland  county,  Ohio,  near  Mansfield,  was  educated  at 
Oberlin  College,  and  while  young  taught  school  in  Huron  and  Richland 
counties,  Ohio,  and  also  in  Missouri.  He  subsequently  took  up  farming, 
and  now  resides  near  Greenwich,  Huron  county.  His  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Lura  P.  Barker,  was  born  near  Greenwich,  Ohio,  a 
daughter  of  General  Daniel  G.  and  Eliza  (Baker)  Barker,  and  a de- 
scendant in  the  seventh  generation  from  Richard  Barker,  who  was  living 
in  Andover,  Massachusetts,  in  1643.  Stephen  Barker,  the  next  in  line 
of  descent,  was  born  in  1659,  and  married  Mary  Abbott.  The  line  was 
continued  through  their  son,  Zebediah  Barker,  who  was  born  in  1690, 
and  married  Elizabeth  Lovejoy.  The  next  in  descent  was  David  Barker, 
born  in  1731,  who  served  as  a soldier  in  the  Revolution,  and  afterwards 
moved  to  Temple,  New  Hampshire,  where  he  spent  his  remaining  days. 
He  married  Sarah  Barker,  and  the  line  was  continued  through  their  son, 
Ephraim  Foster  Barker,  who  was  born  in  Methuen,  Massachusetts,  in 
1778,  and  married  Hannah  Moss,  of  Boston.  He  removed  from  Temple, 
to  Scipio,  New  York,  and  from  there,  in  1819,  made  an  overland  journey 
in  the  winter  season  to  Ohio,  and  located  in  Huron  county,  becoming 
the  second  permanent  settler  of  Greenwich  township,  that  county.  He 
took  up  wild  land  near  Greenwich,  improved  a farm,  and  there  resided 
until  his  death,  in  1860.  He  was  three  times  married,  and  reared 
thirteen  children.  General  Daniel  G.  Barker,  Mrs.  McKitrick’s  grand- 
father, was  born  in  Temple,  New  Hampshire,  March  17,  1803.  He 
served  as  a brigadier  general  in  the  State  Militia.  Succeeding  to  the 
occupation  of  his  ancestors,  he  followed  farming  during  his  active  life  in 
Huron  county,  Ohio,  and  died,  in  1887,  at  Greenwich.  He  married 
Eliza  Baker,  who  descended  from  Edward  Baker,  who,  with  his  wife 
Joan,  sailed  in  1630,  from  Southampton,  England,  for  America,  and 
settled  in  Lynn,  Massachusetts.  The  next  in  line  of  descent,  Edward 
Baker,  Jr.,  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Captain  Thomas  Marshall,  and 
their  son,  Marshall  Baker,  married  Thankful  Ward,  a direct  descendant 
of  William  Ward,  who  settled  in  Sudbury,  Massachusetts,  in  1639,  and 
founded  the  Massachusetts  family  to  which  General  Artemas  Ward, 
commander-in-chief  of  the  army,  belonged.  The  next  in  line  of  descent 
was  Sherebiah  Baker,  who  served  as  a minute  man  in  the  Revolutionary 
war,  going  from  Upton,  Massachusetts.  He  married  Clotilda  Daniels. 
Their  son,  Marshall  Baker,  married  Betsey  Ward,  and  among  the 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


779 


children  that  they  reared  was  Eliza  Baker,  who  became  the  wife  of 
General  Daniel  G.  Barker.  Mrs.  McKitrick’s  mother  died  April  2,  1897. 
She  reared  five  children,  as  follows:  Clara  R.,  now  a teacher  in  the 

Philippine  Islands;  Joseph  D. ; Frank  D. ; May  E.  McKitrick;  and 
Grace  A.  Matthews. 

Dr.  McKitrick  and  his  wife  have  two  children,  namely : Donald 
Kent  and  Austa.  The  family  are  all  members  of  the  Church  of  Christ. 
Mrs.  McKitrick  is  a member  of  Fort  McArthur  Chapter,  D.  A.  R.,  of 
which  she  is  a regent,  and  Dr.  McKitrick  is  a member  of  Scioto  Chapter, 
S.  A.  R, 

Professor  John  W.  Osborne,  is  one  of  the  ablest  and  most  promi- 
nent educators  of  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  who  has  been  principal  of  the 
Roundhead  schools  for  the  past  eleven  years.  Professor  Osborne  was 
born  in  Clinton,  Ohio,  February  11,  1865,  a son  of  John  M.  and  Christina 
(Tullis)  Osborne.  His  father  was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Franklin  be- 
fore John  W.  Osborne  was  born,  thus  he  never  knew  a father’s  care  or 
counsel.  He  was  reared  on  a farm  and  was  educated  in  the  Ohio 
Soldiers  and  Sailors  Orphan  Home  at  Xenia,  remaining  there  until 
sixteen  years  of  age.  He  attended  the  normal  school  at  Ada,  and  at 
the  age  of  nineteen  years  took  up  the  occupation  of  teaching.  He  has 
continued  in  this  profession  constantly  ever  since,  save  for  one  year 
when  he  was  engaged  in  service  in  the  Spanish- American  war.  He  en- 
listed as  a private  and  was  mustered  out  as  battalion  quartermaster  ser- 
geant. Professor  Osborne  was  the  first  principal  of  the  high  schools  at 
Roundhead,  and  is  assisted  by  two  other  teachers.  He  has  entire  charge 
of  the  high  school  department.  He  made  the  most  of  his  opportunities 
to  gain  an  education,  and  keeps  thoroughly  abreast  of  the  times  in  mat- 
ters relating  to  his  profession.  He  is  well  read  and  highly  cultured,  and 
has  made  his  own  way  in  the  world  from  a very  youthful  beginning. 
He  was  possessed  of  unusual  energy  and  ambition,  and  used  them  to  good 
advantage.  Professor  Osborne  holds  a five-year  county  license. 

In  1904  he  married  Mary  Young,  and  one  child  has  been  born  to 
them,  Dorothy,  born  in  September,  1908.  He  is  a member  of  Bell  Center 
Lodge  No.  347,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  of  which  he  is  a 
past  master.  Politically  he  is  a Republican  and  takes  a commendable 
interest  in  public  affairs.  Professor  Osborne  has  been  an  inspiration 
to  those  who  have  been  under  his  charge,  and  has  made  his  influence 
count  for  good.  He  has  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  fellows,  and  is 
well  liked  wherever  known. 

John  W.  May,  who  successfully  conducts  a general  store  at  Round- 
head,  also  owns  a good  farm  in  Roundhead  township  and  looks  after 
its  interests.  He  is  an  enterprising  and  progressive  business  man,  and 
pays  close  attention  to  his  various  interests  and  investments.  He  was 
born  in  Kenton,  Ohio,  November  19,  1852,  a son  of  James  H.  and  Susan 
J.  (Walker)  May.  James  IT.  May  was  born  in  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  August 
2,  1812,  and  his  wife  was  born  near  Charlottesville,  Virginia,  In  April, 
1826.  The  Walker  family  removed  from  Virginia  to  Pickaway  county, 


780 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Ohio,  about  1832.  James  H.  May  was  a son  of  John  May,  who  located 
in  Logan  county  and  kept  a hotel  at  Big  Springs. 

James  H.  May  was  married  in  1846,  and  the  following  year  settled 
in  Kenton,  where  he  worked  at  the  trade  of  a carpenter  until  1867,  and 
then  located  in  Roundhead  township,  near  the  town,  where  he  carried 
on  farming  until  death  in  1896.  He  was  an  earnest  member  of  the 
Disciple  church.  He  was  the  father  of  nine  children,  of  whom  four 
now  survive,  namely:  Mary,  wife  of  Dr.  B.  B.  Potter,  of  Lancaster, 
Missouri ; John  W. ; Frank  W.,  who  lives  on  the  old  homestead  in  Round- 
head  township;  and  Ida  R.,  wife  of  J.  B.  South,  of  Lima,  Ohio;  Henry, 
deceased  was  a soldier  in  the  Spanish- American  war,  and  served  as 
quartermaster  and  paymaster.  He  was  an  attorney  of  Kenton  and  re- 
presented the  Thirteenth  district  in  the  Ohio  senate  in  1887.  He  died 
in  Texas  in  May,  1905.  A daughter  Liddie,  is  also  deceased. 

The  early  days  of  John  W.  May  were  spent  on  his  father’s  farm, 
where  as  soon  as  he  was  old  enough,  he  assisted  in  the  work.  He  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Kenton  and  Roundhead  township,  and 
in  1882  entered  into  partnership  with  J.  E.  Mertz  and  bought  out  the 
grocery  store  of  E.  J.  Short.  They  remained  in  partnership  twenty-two 
years,  and  in  1904  Mr.  May  bought  out  his  partner’s  interests,  since 
which  time  he  has  conducted  the  business  alone.  He  also  owns  a farm 
of  one  hundred  and  seventy-six  acres  in  the  township  and  makes  a 
specialty  of  stock  raising.  His  business  integrity  and  honesty  are  widely 
recognized,  and  he  enjoys  a good  patronage. 

On  December  30,  1875,  Mr.  May  married  Mary  C.  Bowdle,  daughter 
of  Henry  S.  Bowdle.  She  was  born  in  Roundhead  township  in  1855. 
To  this  union  three  daughters  have  been  born,  as  follows:  Grace,  born 
September  9,  1878,  a graduate  of  the  Delaware  (Ohio)  College;  Hazel, 
born  March  23,  1890,  a student  in  the  Conservatory  of  Music  at  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio ; and  Ruth,  born  September  16,  1892,  a graduate  of  the  High 
school  at  Roundhead.  Politically  Mr.  May  is  a Republican,  although 
he  does  not  aspire  to  public  office  himself.  He  is  well  known  in  Hardin 
county  and  has  a host  of  friends. 

William  F.  McGinnis. — Among  the  successful  farmers  and  stock 
raisers  of  Roundhead  township  is  William  F.  McGinnis,  a native  of  the 
state  of  Ohio,  born  in  Perry  county  March  4,  1853,  a son  of  Moses  and 
Margaret  (Work)  McGinnis.  Mr.  McGinnis  is  the  only  one  now  living 
of  the  children  by  his  father’s  first  marriage.  He  came  with  his  parents 
to  Allen  county  when  about  eleven  years  of  age,  and  they  located  on 
a farm  at  West  Newton.  He  lived  with  his  father  until  twenty-four 
years  of  age,  attending  the  country  school  winters  and  working  on  the 
farm  summers. 

On  February  26.  1876,  Mr.  McGinnis  married  Marie  E.  Smith, 
who  was  born  in  Allen  county  December  30,  1857,  a daughter  of  Jacob 
L.  and  Sarah  M.  (Crawford)  Smith.  She  was  reared  in  West  Newton 
and  attended  the  graded  school  at  that  place.  After  his  marriage  Mr. 
McGinnis  rented  a farm,  and  they  worked  hard  to  get  a start  in  life. 
He  lived  on  rented  land  until  1885,  when  he  purchased  a hotel  at  Alger, 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


781 


Ohio,  and  remained  there  about  five  years,  then  sold  out  and  purchased 
a farm  in  Marion  township,  where  he  remained  about  five  years,  then 
located  in  Roundhead  township.  He  owns  eighty  acres  of  land  in 
section  15,  where  he  carries  on  general  farming  and  makes  a specialty 
of  stock  raising.  Mr.  McGinnis  is  a member  of  the  United  Brethren 
church  of  Pleasant  Valley,  and  serves  as  chorister  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  at  Holden,  Ohio.  He  is  a member  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  Lodge  at  Roundhead.  Politically  he  is  a Republican,  and  has 
held  various  township  offices.  At  present  he  is  serving  the  county  as 
infirmary  director;  the  body  meets  once  a month  and  attends  to  the 
wants  of  the  poor  and  looks  after  the  poor  farm.  He  is  serving  his 
second  two-year  term  in  this  capacity.  He  is  highly  respected  in  his 
locality,  where  he  has  a large  circle  of  friends.  He  is  honest  and  indus- 
trious, and  takes  a commendable  interest  in  public  affairs,  being  always 
ready  to  support  every  measure  for  the  public  welfare. 

Mr.  McGinnis  and  his  wife  have  had  children  as  follows : Myrtle 
E.,  wife  of  Rev.  W.  E.  Childs;  Margaret,  wife  of  Orion  J.  Clinger- 
Gertrude  G.,  wife  of  Frederick  Hamilton ; Fred  V.,  who  married  Miss 
Elsie  Hinkle;  Bennie,  Retha  and  Cordie,  and  two  children  deceased. 
Hazel,  who  died  January  3,  1909,  and  Victor,  who  died  November  7,  1904. 

Albert  Moore  Jr. — Prominent  among  the  business  men  and  citizens 
of  McDonald  township  is  numbered  Albert  Moore,  Jr.,  who  was  born  in 
Franklin  county,  Ohio,  September  17,  1862,  a son  of  Albert  and  Hannah 
(Fultz)  Moore.  The  family  came  to  Hardin  county  about  the  year 
of  1871,  locating  in  Taylor  Creek  township,  which  was  their  home  for 
some  time,  and  the  parents  are  now  living  in  McDonald  township. 

Albert  Moore,  the  son,  was  the  third  born  of  his  parents  seven 
children,  and  he  has  been  identified  with  agricultural  pursuits  since 
leaving  the  district  schools  at  the  age  of  seventeen.  At,  the  age  of 
twenty-one,  in  1883,  he  was  married  to  Callie  Ampsler,  who  was  born  and 
reared  in  Hardin  county.  They  began  their  married  life  with  com- 
paratively nothing  of  this  world’s  goods,  and  Mr.  Moore  rented  his 
father’s  farm  for  some  time,  then  going  in  debt  for  a place.  But  suc- 
cess has  crowned  his  well  directed  efforts,  and  he  now  owns  a good  estate 
of  six  hundred  and  twelve  acres  in  McDonald  township,  which  repre- 
sents the  accumlation  of  many  years  of  hard  and  persistent  labor.  He 
is  engaged  very  extensively  in  growing  and  shipping  onions,  shipping 
about  two  hundred  car  loads  of  this  product  yearly  to  the  best  markets 
of  the  country,  and  besides  he  is  also  a well  known  breeder  of  good  stock, 
hogs,  sheep  and  horses.  He  is  a Republican  voter,  and  is  cpiite  pro- 
minent in  the  politics  of  his  township  and  county. 

Fotu-  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moore,  namely: 
Effie,  Lydia,  Callie  and  Anna.  The  eldest  daughter  is  the  wife  of  Carl 
Batchlett,  of  McDonald  township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moore  and  their  family 
are  members  of  the  Mt.  Zion  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  McDonald 
township. 


Vol.  11—23 


782 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


George  Jameson. — Attorney  George  Jameson  was  born  in  Wayne 
county,  Ohio,  November  15,  1838.  After  leaving  the  common  schools 
he  attended  Vermilion  Institute  in  Ashland  county  and  Kenyon  College, 
and  graduated  from  the  Law  Department  of  Michigan  University  in 
1867.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  by  the  supreme  court  of  Ohio,  and 
practiced  law  successfully  at  Lima,  Ohio,  for  sixteen  years,  and  besides 
prosecuting  an  active  law  practice  he  performed  his  full  share  in  im- 
proving the  city  of  Lima,  having  developed  and  laid  out  Jameson’s 
two  beautiful  additions  to  that  city  and  which  constitute  now  the 
beautiful  west  end,  filled  with  fine  homes  and  constituting  by  far  the 
most  beautiful  residence  part  of  the  city.  He  was  the  pioneer  street 
railway  man  of  Lima.  He  organized  the  original  Lima  Street  Railway 
Company  and  served  as  its  president  until  he  left  the  city.  In  1883,  on 
account  of  the  unfavorable  condition  of  his  health,  he  sold  his  interests 
in  Lima,  including  his  beautiful  home  which  he  sold  to  Dr.  Baxter,  and 
invested  in  lands  near  Dola  in  Hardin  county,  where  he  developed  a 
large  farm  and  made  a beautiful  home  where,  with  his  estimable  wife,  he 
resided  until  her  death  in  1899. 

When  twenty- two  years  of  age  Mr.  Jameson  had  married  Mary  E. 
McClure,  the  sweetheart  of  his  boyhood  and  of  his  after  life,  a most 
excellent  and  beautiful  Christian  woman,  to  whom  he  was  very  greatly 
devoted  and  with  whom  he  lived  most  happily  for  nearly  forty  years. 
Her  death  has  greatly  saddened  his  life,  and  being  left  with  no  one 
but  employes  he  opened  a law  office  at  Ada  in  order  to  be  near  his  only 
child,  Charles  E.  Jameson,  to  whom  with  his  family  he  is  very  much 
attached.  During  the  Civil  war  he  entered  the  army  as  a private,  but 
was  promoted  to  first  sergeant  and  afterward  became  captain  of  his  com- 
pany. He  is  a member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  a Republican 
in  politics,  but  in  both  religion  and  politics  he  is  very  liberal  toward  the 
sincere  and  reasonable  opinions  of  others.  He  has  always  been  opposed 
to  the  saloons  and  the  liquor  traffic,  and  he  did  his  full  share  in  eradicat- 
ing them  from  Ada  and  from  the  township  and  the  county.  He  is  an 
industrious,  careful  lawyer  of  long  experience,  who  aims  to  always  give 
good,  faithful,  safe  and  honest  counsel  and  service  to  all  who  employ  him. 

Charles  E.  Jameson,  son  of  George  and  Mary  E.  Jameson,  was 
born  in  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  April  8,  1866,  and  received  his  education 
in  the  Lima,  Ohio,  schools  and  the  Ohio  State  University.  He  married 
Elma  I.  Sanford,  and  they  reside  in  their  country  home  three  miles  east 
of  Ada.  They  operate  their  farm  of  four  hundred  acres  of  very  rich 
and  valuable  land,  and  educate  their  sons  at  Ada.  They  have  six  sons, 
Edwin,  Cloyd,  Sinclair,  Sanford,  AValter  and  Robert. 

Cadwallader  Wallace. — The  agricultural  interests  of  Hardin 
county  find  an  able  representative  in  Cadwallader  Wallace,  who  owns  a 
valuable  estate  in  McDonald  township,  and  is  prominently  known  both  as 
a farmer  and  stock  raiser.  He  was  born  in  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  January 
24,  1855,  a son  of  Neacma  and  Maria  Wallace,  both  also  natives  of 
this  commonwealth,  the  father  of  Ross  county  and  the  mother  of 
Franklin  county.  The  son  was  reared  in  his  native  city  of  Chillico- 


MRS.  CHARLES  E.  JAMESON 


MRS.  GEORGE  JAMESON 


- 


V 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


783 


the,  attending  a private  school  there,  and  leaving  there  in  1882  he 
came  to  Hardin  county,  where  his  father  had  given  him  three  hundred 
and  seventy-six  acres  of  land  in  McDonald  township.  This,  however, 
was  heavily  wooded  land  at  that  time,  but  with  the  passing  years  Mr. 
Wallace  has  cleared  it  and  made  it  one  of  the  valuable  estates  of  the 
township.  He  follows  a general  line  of  farming  and  is  engaged  very 
extensively  in  the  raising  of  fine  stock,  including  Percheron  horses, 
Duroc  hogs  and  Holstein  cattle.  He  is  also  an  active  political  worker 
in  county  and  state  politics,  and  was  at  one  time  the  nominee  of  his 
party,  the  Democratic,  for  the  office  of  commissioner. 

In  1876  Mr.  Wallace  was  married  to  Louella  Reed,  also  born  in  the 
city  of  Chillicothe,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  the  following  four 
children:  Harry  R..  who  married  Ethel  Fullilove,  and  is  filling  a cler- 
ical position  at  MeGuffey,  Ohio ; Nellie,  the  wife  of  Norman  Williams, 
of  Taylor  Creek  township ; George,  who  married  Edith  McKaftv ; and 
Jean,  in  the  parental  home.  Mrs.  Wallace  died  in  1896,  and  Mr. 
Wallace  subsequently  married  Alice  Fields,  a daughter  of  the  Rev. 
John  Fields  of  Ada,  Ohio,  and  the  only  child  of  that  union  died  at 
the  age  of  thirteen  months.  Mr.  Wallace  is  a member  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  fraternity  at  Kenton. 

John  Dillon. — The  substantial  and  well-to-do  residents  of  Hardin 
county  have  no  more  worthy  representative  than  John  Dillon,  of 
Roundhead,  who  ranks  high  among  the  keen,  progressive  and  skillful 
farmers  who  have  so  actively  assisted  in  developing  the  agricultural 
interests  of  this  part  of  the  state.  A son  of  John  S.  Dillon,  he  was 
born.  August  4,  1844.  in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  John  S.  Dillon  was 
born.  September  19,  1814,  in  Clark  county,  Ohio,  of  pioneer  ancestry, 
and  was  there  brought  up  and  educated.  He  subsequently  moved  to 
Logan  county,  and  was  there  engaged  in  general  farming  until  his 
death  in  1887.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Martin, 
was  born,  August  9,  1817,  in  Highland  county,  Ohio.  Of  the  children 
born  of  their  union  three  sons  served  in  the  Civil  war,  Isaac,  Thomas 
and  John. 

Having  completed  the  course  of  study  in  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  county,  John  Dillon  naturally  turned  his  attention  to  the 
independent  pursuit  with  which  he  was  most  familiar,  becoming  a 
most  successful  farmer.  Locating  near  Jumbo,  Hardin  county,  in  1866, 
he  lived  there  thirteen  years,  after  which  he  spent  two  years  in  Logan 
county.  Returning  to  Hardin  county  in  1881,  he  took  up  his  residence 
in  McDonald  township,  where  he  continued  as  one  of  its  foremost 
agriculturists  until  1909,  when  he  moved  to  his  attractive  home  in 
Roundhead.  When  the  Civil  war  was  in  progress  Mr.  Dillon  enlisted 
for  a period  of  three  years  in  Company  I,  Fifty-seventh  Ohio  Volunteer 
Infantry,  but  was  sent  home  owing  to  his  youth,  although  he  afterwards 
re-enlisted,  becoming  a member  of  Company  F,  One  Hundred  and 
Thirty-second  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  at  the  end  of  his  term  of 
enlistment,  one  hundred  days,  was  honorably  discharged  at  Camp  Chase. 
During  his  service  in  the  army  he  participated  in  several  engagements 


784 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


of  importance,  including  the  battle  of  Richmond,  the  three  days  siege 
of  Petersburg  and  the  battle  of  Chattanooga. 

Mr.  Dillon  married,  February  16,  1866,  Nerva  Helpenstein,  a 
daughter  of  Simeon  and  Elizabeth  (Heath)  Helpenstein,  and  to  them 
six  children  were  born,  namely:  Simeon,  residing  at  Silver  Creek,  mar- 
ried Bertha  Grundy,  and  they  have  one  child,  Lizzie;  Emma,  wife  of 
James  Taylor,  of  Lima,  Ohio,  has  three  children,  Mary,  Homer  and  one 
other;  Marietta,  wife  of  Amos  Wheeler,  of  Foraker,  Ohio,  has  three 
children,  George,  Homer  and  one  other;  Annie,  wife  of  Robert  Low, 
of  Kenton,  has  one  child,  Ethel ; George  E.,  of  Roundhead  township, 
married  Aggie  Stout,  and  they  have  one  child,  Emerson ; and  a child 
that  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Dillon’s  first  wife  died  January  28,  1884. 
He  married  on  March  28,  1896,  Mary  Jane  Hoon,  daughter  of  George 
and  Sarah  Hoon,  of  McDonald  township.  Politically  Mr.  Dillon  uni- 
formly casts  his  vote  for  the  Republican  candidate  for  office.  Fratern- 
ally he  is  a member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  for  upwards  of 
sixteen  years  he  has  belonged  to  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  Re- 
ligiously he  is  a faithful  member  of  the  Christian  church. 

Arthur  Clifton  Levally. — Prominent  among  the  agriculturists 
and  business  men  of  Taylor  Creek  township  is  numbered  Arthur  Clifton 
Levally,  who  was  born  in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  September  2,  1866,  a 
son  of  George  William,  a grandson  on  the  paternal  side  of  James  Jeffer- 
son and  a great-grandson  of  George  Levally.  This  last  named  ancestor 
came  to  America  during  the  war  of  1812  and  he  afterward  settled  in 
Logan  county,  Ohio,  the  birthplace  of  his  son,  James  Jefferson  Levally. 
The  latter  married  Emeline  Wilklow  and  died  in  1901,  when  seventy- 
five  years  of  age.  George  William  Levally  born  in  Logan  county,  Ohio, 
in  1843,  died  in  the  year  of  1889,  when  forty-six  years  of  age.  After 
leaving  the  school  room  he  farmed  and  studied  law  at  Ridgeway,  and 
being  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1880  he  was  afterward  in  practice  in  that 
city  until  his  death.  He  was  a Democrat  in  his  political  affiliations,  and 
he  served  both  as  a justice  of  the  peace  and  as  a constable  in  Logan 
county.  He  married  Mary  Anna  Milner,  who  yet  survives  him  and 
has  attained  the  age  of  sixty-eight,  years.  She  is  a daughter  of  Joseph 
Milner,  from  Logan  county,  and  of  Mary  (Hines)  Milner,  his  wife. 
George  W.  Levally  served  three  years  as  a soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  en- 
listing in  1861.  The  children  born  to  him  and  his  wife  are:  James 
Jefferson,  of  Logan  county;  William  Burtis  whose  home  is  in  Wood 
county;  Guy  Carleton,  also  of  Logan  county;  Anna,  who  is  teaching 
school  in  Ridgeway;  and  Cora  May,  wife  of  Charles  Tapp,  of  Taylor 
Creek  township. 

Arthur  C.  Levally,  also  of  the  above  family,  after  leaving  the  school 
room  farmed  with  his  father  until  twenty-eight,  and  he  then  married  and 
farmed  for  two  years  near  Silver  Creek,  was  then  four  years  on  the  old 
Nash  farm  in  Taylor  Creek  township,  two  years  in  Logan  county,  a 
similar  period  in  Union  county,  and  he  then  came  to  his  present  farm  of 
seventy  acres  in  Taylor  Creek  township,  Hardin  county,  and  engaged 
in  farming  and  stock  raising.  Mr.  Levally  is  an  influential  Democratic 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


785 


worker  of  his  township,  and  while  in  Logan  county  he  served  two  terms 
as  a constable  and  is  now  serving  his  second  term  as  the  constable  of 
Taylor  Creek  township,  elected  first  in  1907. 

In  December  of  1894  he  was  married  to  Nettie  Smith,  who  was  born 
September  18,  1873,  in  Logan  county,  a daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Mary 
(Wambaugh)  Smith.  The  mother  is  a daughter  of  Paul  and  Hannan 
(Ross)  Wambaugh,  the  former  born  in  Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  December 
22,  1818,  and  died  in  1868,  and  the  latter,  born  April  13,  1825,  died  in 
1855.  Jonathan  Smith,  born  on  the  23d  of  March,  1851,  is  a son  of 
William  and  Malinda  E.  (Bonnell)  Smith.  William  Smith  was  born  in 
southern  Ohio  and  died  on  the  24th  of  August,  1876,  when  fifty-eight 
years  of  age,  and  Malinda,  his  wife,  born  February  19,  1820,  died  in  1896. 
The  Smith  family  settled  in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  many  years  ago,  later 
moving  to  Delaware  county,  this  state,  and  in  1873  Jonathan  Smith  and 
his  wife  came  to  Taylor  Creek  township  in  Hardin  county  and  home- 
steaded their  present  farm  there.  Mrs.  Levally  is  one  of  their  eight 
children,  the  others  being : Eber  Smith,  a Dudley  township  farmer ; 

Frank  Smith,  living  in  Taylor  Creek  township ; Charles  Smith,  a resident 
of  Hale  township ; Fenton  Smith,  farming  in  Logan  county ; Everett 
Smith,  on  the  home  farm;  Iva,  wife  of  Seigle  Williams;  and  Grace,  wife 
of  Orville  Oglesbee,  of  Kenton.  Five  children  have  been  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Levally,  namely : Eva,  who  died  in  infancy ; Omah,  born 

December  4,  1898;  Kenneth,  born  October  13,  1900;  Herbert,  born  May 
21,  1908;  and  Anna  May,  born  in  January,  1910.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Levally 
are  members  of  the  Christian  church. 

Hon.  Frank  Given  is  one  of  the  representative  men  of  Hardin 
county.  He  has  proved  a valued  factor  in  its  political  councils,  and 
represents  one  of  its  honored  pioneer  families.  He  was  born  in 
McDonald  township  on  the  28th  of  April,  1846,  a son  of  Alexander  and 
Mary  (Campbell)  Given  and  a grandson  on  the  paternal  side  of  William 
Given,  who  was  born  in  Maryland  and  was  of  Scotch  descent.  He  was 
a soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  lie  died  in  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  in  1848. 
Alexander  Given,  born  in  Ross  county,  Ohio,  March  14,  1811,  became 
one  of  the  prominent  characters  of  McDonald  township,  Hardin  county. 
He  served  for  many  years  as  a justice  of  the  peace,  also  as  the  clerk  and 
treasurer  of  McDonald  township,  and  he  died  in  the  year  of  1895.  The 
Campbell  family  were  among  the  pioneers  of  Ross  county  and  became 
residents  of  Hardin  county  prior  to  its  organization.  Daniel  Campbell 
was  the  first  recorder  of  Hardin  county,  and  later  served  as  one  of  its 
associate  judges.  He  was  a prominent  worker  in  the  local  ranks  of  the 
Republican  party.  He  died  in  1864. 

The  Hon.  Frank  Given  received  a common  school  training  in  his 
early  youth,  and  this  fitted  him  for  a teacher,  which  continued  as  his 
work  during  two  or  three  terms.  He  moved  to  Roundhead  township 
in  the  spring  of  1865.  He  served  as  a justice  of  the  peace,  as  treasurer 
and  as  clerk  of  Roundhead  township,  and  in  1893  he  was  elected  a 
probate  judge  on  the  Republican  ticket,  and  was  returned  to  the  office 
in  the  following  election  of  1896,  thus  remaining  the  incumbent  of  that 


786 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


office  for  six  years.  At  the  expiration  of  this  incumbency  the  judge 
returned  to  his  farm  in  Roundhead  township.  He  owns  a splendid 
farm  of  two  hundred  and  ten  acres,  located  in  both  Roundhead  and 
McDonald  townships,  and  is  actively  engaged  in  general  agricultural 
pursuits.  He  is  a member  of  Bell  Center  Lodge,  No.  347,  A.  P.  & A. 
M.,  and  is  also  associated  with  Kenton  Chapter,  R.  A.  M.,  and  with 
Kenton  Commandery,  No.  58,  K.  T.  and  is  a Knight  of  Pythias,  belong- 
ing to  the  lodge  at  Roundhead. 

In  1865  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Eliza  I.  Marmon,  a native 
daughter  of  Hardin  county  and  one  of  its  former  educators.  She 
became  the  mother  of  the  following  seven  children:  Walter  C.,  Anna 

M.,  Boyd  and  Moses  (twins),  Eva  B.,  Robert  A.  and  Franklin.  Mrs. 
Given  died  in  March,  1880,  and  in  January  of  1882  Judge  Given 
married  Malinda  Slaybaugh,  by  whom  he  had  the  following  four  chil- 
dren: Ada  E.,  Mary  C.,  Lewis  P.  and  Gertrude  M.,  all  now  living  with 
the  exception  of  the  daughter  Mary.  Ada  E.  is  the  wife  of  C.  C. 
Thomas,  and  they  are  living  on  the  farm  with  her  father.  The  second 
Mrs.  Given  is  also  deceased,  her  demise  occurring  in  March  of  1906. 
Judge  Given  is  a member  of  the  Methodist  Protestant  denomination  at 
Hinkle  Chapel,  and  is  a member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  His  church. 

John  P.  Richards. — The  development  of  Hardin  county  from  a 
dense  wilderness  to  a rich  agricultural  region  has  been  a labor  of  years, 
and  largely  performed  by  men  of  brain  and  brawn,  skilled  in  the  use  of 
tools  of  all  kinds,  and  especially  thorough  in  their  knowledge  of  agri- 
culture. Noteworthy  among  this  number  is  John  P.  Richards,  a 
venerable  and  highly  esteemed  resident  of  Buck  township,  who  has  here 
been  engaged  in  his  honorable  and  pleasant  occupation  for  upwards  of 
half  a century.  A son  of  Rev.  James  Richards,  he  was  born,  February 
27,  1827,  in  Seneca  county,  Ohio,  coming  from  excellent  New  England 
ancestry. 

His  grandfather,  John  Richards,  was  born  and  reared  in  New 
Hampshire,  and  as  a young  man  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  He 
subsequently  returned  to  his  old  home  among  the  New  England  hills, 
and  for  a number  of  years  owned  and  operated  a flour  mill,  continuing 
his  residence  there  until  his  death. 

Rev.  James  Richards  was  born  and  reared  among  the  invigorating 
breezes  of  the  New  England  states,  in  New  Hampshire.  With  the 
spirit  of  enterprise  that  is  essentially  American  in  character,  he  longed 
as  a young  man  to  try  the  hazard  of  new  fortunes,  and,  with  no  capital 
to  start  with,  journeyed  westward  on  foot,  stopping  occasionally  in 
some  large  place  to  earn  a little  spending  money,  continuing  on  his  way 
until  he  arrived  in  Seneca  township.  He  was  one  of  the  original  set- 
tlers of  that  locality,  Indians  and  the  wild  beasts  of  the  forest  being 
then  plentiful.  Buying  a tract  of  land  on  the  Sandusky  river,  ten 
miles  south  of  Tiffin,  he  built  a log  cabin,  and  cleared  a portion  of  the 
tract.  Selling  out  in  1829,  he,  with  his  wife  and  five  children,  moved 
to  Pike  county,  making  the  journey  there  with  a team,  and  taking  along 
all  of  their  worldly  goods.  A few  years  later  he  settled  on  rented  land 


JAMES  RICHARDS  MATILDA  RICHARDS  SARAH  M.  HARBISON 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


787 


in  Ross  county,  where  he  was  soon  licensed  as  an  exhorter  by  James  B. 
Findley.  He  was  subsequently  licensed  as  a preacher  by  Bishop 
Soule,  and  for  many  years  thereafter  was  active  in  the  ministry,  preach- 
ing in  various  counties,  and  making  many  conversions.  Coming  to 
Hardin  county  in  1848,  he  spent  his  last  years  in  the  family  of  his  son, 
John  P.,  passing  away  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years.  He  married 
Matilda  Perrel,  who  was  born  in  Virginia,  a daughter  of  John  Perrel. 
She  lived  to  the  age  of  seventy-five  years.  She  reared  eight  children, 
as  follows;  Leonard,  Minerva,  Sarah,  John  P.,  Esther,  Jephtha,  Harriet, 
and  Frank. 

Beginning  life  as  a wage-earner  as  soon  as  old  enough,  John  P. 
Richards  began  working  by  the  day  or  month,  and  continued  until 
twenty-four  years  of  age  to  be  thus  employed.  Renting  land  then  in 
Pleasant  township,  he  resided  there  three  years,  and  then  settled  in 
Buck  township,  on  the  farm  which  he  now  owns  and  occupies,  at  once 
assuming  possession  of  the  log  cabin  standing  among  the  trees.  But 
ten  acres  of  the  land  had  then  been  cleared,  but  he  has  since  cleared 
the  remainder,  and  has  made  improvements  of  an  excellent  character 
on  the  place,  including  among  others  the  erection  of  a substantial  set 
of  frame  buildings. 

Mr.  Richards  married,  in  1851,  Sarah  M.  Harbison,  who  was  born 
in  South  Carolina,  September  18,  1832.  Her  father.  Matthew  Harbison, 
a native  of  North  Carolina,  went  to  South  Carolina  when  young,  and 
lived  there  until  1834.  In  that  year,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  five 
children,  he  came  until  a colony  from  his  neighborhood  to  Ohio,  making 
an  overland  trip  with  teams.  His  wife  rode  on  horseback,  bringing 
Mrs.  Richards,  then  an  infant,  in  her  lap.  He  and  his  family  lived 
in  Greene  county  until  1842,  and  then  came  to  Hardin  county,  locating 
in  Pleasant  township,  and  there  living  with  his  sons  until  his  death, 
at  the  age  of  fifty-seven  years.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Sarah  McCoy,  was  born  in  South  Carolina,  and  died,  in  Hardin  county, 
Ohio,  in  the  ninety-fourth  year  of  her  age  in  1894. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Richards  have  one  son,  Marion  F.  Richards.  He 
married  Viola  Butler,  and  they  have  five  children.  Neva,  John  P..  Earl. 
Hazel,  and  Carl.  Neva  married  Horace  Latimer,  and  they  are  the 
parents  of  three  children,  Ruby,  Cleo,  and  Pauline.  John  P.  married 
Ada  Overly  and  they  have  two  children,  John  C.  and  Evelyn.  Earl 
married  Rebecca  Bishop  and  they  have  one  child,  Anna  Belle.  Mr 
Richards  was  converted,  and  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church! 
when  he  was  twelve  years  old,  and  Mrs.  Richards  united  with  the  same 
church  when  she  was  twenty-six  years  of  age.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs 
Richards  enjoy  good  health. 

Hugh  E.  Pearce.— Among  the  men  who  have  acquired  success  in 
Kenton,  Ohio,  is  Hugh  E.  Pearce,  a life-long  resident  of  the  city,  born 
there  December  20.  1870.  He  is  an  enterprising,  representative  citizen, 
and  is  now  engaged  in  real  estate  and  insurance  business.  Mr.  Pearce 
is  a son  of  John  M.  and  Mary  E.  (Whitney)  Pearce;  the  former  a 
native  of  Bedford,  Massachusetts,  was  reared  and  partly  educated  in  his 


788 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


native  town.  John  M.  Pearce  came  with  his  father,  Benjamin  Pearce, 
also  a native  of  Massachusetts,  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  he  attended 
school  for  a time  and  then  entered  the  University  of  Michigan,  from 
which  he  was  graduated.  Benjamin  Pearce  practiced  dentistry  some 
years  in  Cleveland,  and  spent  his  last  ten  years  in  Kenton,  Ohio.  John 
M.  Pearce  was  connected  with  the  Pennsylvania  railroad,  and  upon 
settling  in  Kenton,  about  1868,  was  elected  county  clerk,  holding  the 
office  about  four  years.  He  was  a life-long  Democrat  and  took  an  active 
interest  in  public  affairs.  He  was  a Mason,  and  had  a wide  circle  of 
friends.  His  wife  was  a daughter  of  Dr.  Benjamin  Whitney,  of 
Mansfield,  Ohio.  John  M.  Pearce  and  his  wife  were  parents  of  five 
children,  of  whom  Hugh  E.  is  the  youngest. 

The  boyhood  days  of  Hugh  -E.  Pearce  were  spent  in  Kenton,  where 
he  received  his  education,  and  when  a young  man  began  his  business 
career  as  bookkeeper  for  the  Champion  Iron  Company,  of  Kenton,  where 
he  remained  seven  years.  He  later  became  manager  of  the  American 
Straw  Board  Company,  at  Kenton  and  Middletown,  Ohio,  which  position 
he  held  about  four  years.  His  father  died  in  February,  1899,  and  he 
succeeded  to  his  real  estate  business. 

Mr.  Pearce  is  well  known  in  the  community,  and  enjoys  universal 
respect  and  esteem.  He  is  a stanch  Democrat  and  takes  an  active 
interest  in  public  affairs ; he  is  at  the  time  secretary  of  the  county  board 
of  elections.  He  is  a member  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order 
of  Elks,  No.  157.  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Sons  of  the  American 
Revolution  and  the  Modern  Woodmen. 

William  Alvin  Belt,  M.  D. — In  the  annals  of  Hardin  county  the 
name  of  William  A.  Belt,  M.  D.,  stands  prominent,  not  only  in  the 
medical  world  but  in  business,  literary,  social,  political  and  fraternal 
circles,  in  each  of  which  he  is  influential  and  popular.  As  one  of  the 
leading  physicians  and  surgeons  of  Kenton,  he  has  built  up  one  of  the 
best  medical  practices  in  the  city,  his  professional  knowledge,  skill  and 
ability  being  recognized  throughout  the  community.  He  was  born 
April  23,  1863,  in  Wapakoneta,  Auglaize  county,  Ohio,  oldest  child  of 
Rev.  LeRoy  A.  Belt,  D.  D.,  and  Rachel  Burgett  Belt.  His  boyhood  was 
passed  in  Ottawa,  Bellefontaine,  Marion  and  Toledo,  Ohio.  From  the 
high  school  of  the  latter  city  he  graduated  at  sixteen. 

In  1884,  after  completing  a university  course  and  taking  prepara- 
tory medicine,  he  was  graduated  from  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  University  at 
Delaware,  Ohio,  with  the  degree  of  B.  S.  Four  years  afterward,  having 
complied  with  the  requirements,  the  post-graduate  degree  of  M.  S.  was 
conferred.  In  1886,  completing  his  medical  course,  he  was  graduated 
from  the  Medical  College  of  Ohio  at  Cincinnati,  now  the  medical  depart- 
ment of  the  University  of  Cincinnati. 

In  1887  the  doctor  was  married  to  Alba  Webster  at  Kenton,  Ohio, 
who  died  twelve  years  afterward,  leaving  two  children,  LeRoy  Lorin, 
who  is  now  in  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  University  and  Rachel  A.,  now  in 
Kenton  high  school. 

Dr.  Belt  holds  a place  of  prominence  in  the  Masonic  fraternity  with 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


789 


'which  he  has  been  officially  connected  in  many  ways  for  many  years, 
and  in  1902  and  1903  was  Grand  Master  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Ohio, 
and  has  since  served  on  its  various  committees.  In  1906  and  1907,  as 
chairman  of  the  ritual  committee,  the  Doctor  re-edited  the  Ritual  of 
Masonry  for  Ohio,  and  he  has  the  distinction  of  being  one  of  the  five 
men  chosen  to  write  the  “History  of  the  Masonic  Order  in  Ohio  for  the 
Past  One  Hundred  Years,”  the  first  volume  of  which  is  now,  in  1910, 
out  of  press,  and  will  be  of  great  interest  and  benefit  to  the  Masons 
throughout  the  United  States,  but  more  especially  to  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
this  state  and  Ohio  Masons.  In  1909  Dr.  Belt  was  chosen  and  received 
at  Boston  the  thirty-third  and  last  degree  in  Masonry,  being  the  first 
man  in  the  history  of  Hardin  county  to  receive  this  honor. 

Very  active  in  politics,  Dr.  Belt  is  one  of  the  prominent  members 
of  the  Republican  party,  and  from  1898  until  1900  served  on  the  Ohio 
Centennial  Board  of  Commissioners,  being  appointed  by  Governor  Busli- 
nell  to  represent  the  Eighth  Congressional  District.  For  two  years 
he  was  chairman  of  the  county  Republican  executive  committee.  He  is 
now  a member  of  the  state  Republican  executive  committee.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Kenton  School  Board  for  eight  years,  and  for  ten  years 
was  a member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  for  the  Ohio  Northern  University 
from  1897  until  1907,  serving  also  as  their  secretary,  when  he  resigned 
the  position.  On  February  22,  1908,  when  the  Delta  Kappa  Epsilon 
literary  fraternity  was  established  at  his  alma  mater  the  Doctor  re- 
ceived the  honorary  degree  of  D.  K.  E.,  his  standing  in  his  studies 
throughout  his  college  course  having  been  above  ninety.  The  Doctor 
holds  membership  in  Hardin  county,  North  Western  Ohio,  the  Ohio 
and  the  American  Medical  Societies. 

Dr.  Belt  married,  June  6,  1901,  Barbara  H.  Garst  of  Greenville, 
Darke  county,  Ohio,  and  they  have  one  son  William  Alvin,  Jr.  born 
July  13,  1903.  In  1900,  the  Doctor  took  a trip  abroad,  visiting  while 
away  many  places  of  historical  interest,  and  the  principal  hospitals 
of  the  various  European  countries,  including  England,  Scotland,  Ire- 
land, France,  Germany,  Switzerland,  Austria,  Italy,  Belgium  and 
Holland. 

Thomas  Yearsley,  deceased,  one  of  the  oldest  settlers  of  Taylor 
township,  Union  county,  Ohio,  lived  for  many  years  near  Broadway. 
He  was  born  in  Chester  county,  Pennsylvania,  December  23,  1819,  son 
of  Thomas  and  Sarah  Yearsley.  Thomas  Yearsley  Sr.  was  also  a 
native  of  Chester  county,  Pennsylvania,  born  August  23,  1790;  Sarah, 
his  first  wife,  was  also  born  there,  October  9,  1789,  and  died  in  the  same 
place,  March  17,  1834.  He  remained  a widower  until  January  6,  1836, 
when  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mary  Hawley.  In  1853  Mr. 
Yearsley  removed,  with  his  wife  and  three  of  his  youngest  children,  to 
Union  county,  Ohio,  and  June  28,  1854,  he  died,  being  in  his  sixty-fourth 
year.  His  widow  survived  him  some  time,  and  passed  away  July  18, 
1870. 

In  1849  Thomas  Yearsley  Jr.  removed  to  Ohio,  settling  near  Broad- 
way, Union  county,  on  a farm,  where  he  lived  until  his  decease,  in 


790 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


August,  1895.  He  married,  October  18,  1860,  Sarah  Greene,  a native 
of  New  York,  born  August  3,  1833.  Mr.  Yearsley  became  a successful 
farmer,  and  before  engaging  in  this  occupation  spent  some,  time  in 
teaching,  and  also  clerked  in  a store.  He  had  acquired  a good  educa- 
tion and  was  a progressive  farmer,  at  the  time  of  his  death  owning 
one  hundred  and  seventy-six  acres  of  land,  in  a high  state  of  cultivation. 
He  was  well  known  and  highly  respected  in  the  community,  and  for 
some  time  held  the  office  of  trustee  of  Taylor  township.  Mr.  Yearsley 
and  his  wife  became  parents  of  seven  children,  of  whom  the  following 
five  survive:  Alben,  Joseph,  Ada,  Burton  and  Emma.  Mrs.  Yearsley 
formerly  belonged  to  the  Christian  church  but  later  joined  the  Fi*ee- 
will  Baptist  church.  Mr.  Yearsley  was  a man  of  influence,  and  had 
many  friends ; his  loss  was  deeply  felt,  and  he  was  widely  mourned. 

Douglas  Poe. — One  of  the  prominent  and  successful  farmers  and 
stockmen  of  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  is  Douglas  Poe,  who  owns  land  in 
Roundhead  and  McDonald  townships.  Mr.  Poe  was  born  in  Round- 
head  township,  January  16,  1856,  and  is  a son  of  Andrew  and  Lavina 
(Zimmerman)  Poe.  Andrew  Poe,  a native  of  Pickaway  county,  Ohio, 
was  born  May  1,  1816,  and  was  a son  of  David  Poe,  a native  of  Kentucky, 
who  settled  in  Ohio  in  1812.  David  Poe  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Ohio, 
and  removed  from  one  place  to  another  in  search  of  a suitable  location ; 
finally  in  1830,  he  located  in  McDonald  township,  Hardin  county,  where 
he  cleared  and  improved  a farm  of  two  hundred  acres,  where  he  lived 
until  the  death  of  his  wife,  after  which  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life  in  Roundhead  township.  He  married  Elizabeth  Ritchey,  a native 
of  Ireland,  who  was  brought  to  the  United  States  when  she  was  a year 
old.  To  this  union  twelve  children  were  born. 

Andrew  Poe  married  Lavina  Zimmerman  February  11,  1837;  she 
was  a native  of  Ross  county,  Ohio.  Mr.  Poe  was  a prosperous  farmer 
and  became  the  owner  of  some  five  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land.  ■ He 
died  April  26,  1905,  and  his  wife  died  May  26,  1895.  They  were  par- 
ents of  the  following  children:  William,  Milton,  Ann  M.,  Genova, 
Samantha,  David  and  Douglas.  Mr.  Poe  was  a member  of  the  Metho- 
dist Protestant  church. 

The  boyhood  of  Douglas  Poe  was  spent  in  Roundhead  township, 
and  when  old  enough  he  began  to  assist  in  the  work  of  the  farm.  He 
attended  school  winters  until  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age  and  then 
devoted  his  entire  attention  to  farming.  He  has  been  very  successful 
and  now  owns  three  hundred  and  twenty-three  acres  in  his  farm,  where 
he  carries  on  general  farming  and  pays  special  attention  to  stock-raising. 
He  has  always  looked  carefully  after  his  interests  and  has  been  amply 
rewarded  by  the  results  of  his  labor. 

Politically  Mr.  Poe  is  a Democrat,  though  he  has  never  cared  for 
public  office.  lie  married,  December  9,  1891,  Anna  Borders,  who  is 
a native  of  Hardin  county,  born  in  McDonald  township,  December  3, 
1858,  and  they  became  parents  of  three  children,  namely:  Birdie,  born 
April  2,  1896;  Leah,  June  18,  1900,  and  Tena,  born  June  18,  1900,  died 
in  August,  1900. 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


791 


Mr.  Poe  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Protestant 
church  of  Hinkle  chapel. 

Cyrus  McGuffey  was  born  in  Columbus,  Franklin  county,  Ohio, 
January  15,  1834,  a son  of  John  and  Parmelia  McGuffey,  both  also  born 
in  the  commonwealth.  It  was  John  McGuffey  and  sons  that  conceived 
the  idea  of  draining  the  great  Scioto  Marsh.  The  lands  lying  on  the 
north  and  east  of  the  Scioto  river  were  Congress  and  Military  lands  and 
were  sold  to  whoever  would  buy  them  at  one  dollar  and  twenty-five  cents 
per  acre.  When  the  lands  that  could  be  disposed  of  at  that  price  were 
all  sold  there  remained  an  extensive  tract  of  swamp  lands  that  the 
government  was  unable  to  sell.  This  land  was  regarded  as  absolutely 
worthless  and  was  considered  impossible  to  drain.  The  government 
then  ceded  these  lands  to  the  state.  The  state  in  turn  to  the  county. 
At  the  time  the  state  turned  these  swamp  lands  over  to  the  county  a law 
was  passed  directing  how  they  were  to  be  disposed  of.  The  county 
commissioners  were  to  advertise  for  bidders  to  do  a certain  amount  of 
ditching  under  the  direction  of  the  commissioners  and  engineer.  The 
contractors  were  to  receive  for  their  work  land  at  one  dollar  and  twenty- 
five  cents  per  acre. 

This  land  was  advertised  for  several  years  without  any  one  bidding 
on  it.  Finally  John  McGuffey  heard  of  it  and  came  up  from  Columbus, 
looked  the  land  over  and  concluded  that  it  could  be  drained.  He  then 
put  in  a bid  and  got  the  contract  and  went  ahead  and  did  a sufficient 
amount  of  work  to  obtain  four  thousand  five  hundred  acres  of  this  land. 
This  was  done  in  the  years  1858-9  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Rough, 
Mr.  Woods,  and  Mr.  Marsh,  county  commissioners  at  that  time  and  to 
their  entire  satisfaction  as  they  themselves  expressed  it.  The  prime 
object  of  this  work  was  to  get  this  land  on  the  tax  duplicate  and  thus 
help  bear  the  burdens  of  taxation. 

This  then  was  the  entering  wedge  toward  reclaiming  this  section 
from  the  snakes,  frogs  and  mosquitoes  and  we  believe  that  the  McGuffey 
family  should  receive  the  proper  credit  that  their  efforts  merit  in  thus 
starting  a reclamation  project  that  has  been  the  means  of  developing 
the  most  productive  section  of  Hardin  county,  a section  that  today  is 
noted  for  its  good  roads  fine  homes  and  fertile  farms,  and  realizes 
enormous  sums  of  money  from  the  sale  of  its  products. 

After  acquiring  this  land  the  great  Civil  war  broke  out  and  thus 
delayed  and  frustrated  the  original  plans  of  reclamation.  This  land 
was  held  for  some  twenty  years  and  then  the  four  thousand  five  hundred 
acres  was  sold  to  a syndicate  of  capitalists  for  six  dollars  per  acre. 

In  the  meantime  John  McGuffey  purchased  some  two  thousand 
acres  at  prices  ranging  from  three  to  twelve  dollars  per  acre  and  it  was 
this  land  that  was  deeded  to  his  heirs  and  at  present  is  still  largely 
owned  by  them.  His  two  sons,  Richard  C.  and  Cyrus  were  actively 
engaged  with  their  father  in  the  work  from  the  beginning.  Richard 
C.  moving  to  Hardin  county  in  November,  1863,  and  died  March  22, 
1870.  Cyrus  and  wife  moving  there  in  April  1864. 

Cyrus  McGuffey  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Franklin 


792 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


county,  then  at  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  University  at  Delaware  for  two  years 
and  completed  his  educational  training  at  the  Ohio  University  at  Athens. 
On  October  25,  1859,  he  married  Marinda  Patterson,  daughter  of  Thomas 
and  Marinda  (Codner)  Patterson  a native  daughter  of  Franklin  county, 
and  a student  for  some  time  at  the  Worthington  Female  College.  Four 
years  after  marriage  they  took  up  their  abode  in  Hardin  county  and 
lived  in  this  county  until  1884.  In  March  of  that  year  they  removed 
to  Miami  county,  Indiana,  living  there  for  six  years.  In  1890  they  re- 
turned to  Hardin  county  and  were  residents  of  this  county  until  the 
death  of  Cyrus  McGuffey  on  June  7,  1906. 

Cyrus  McGuffey  was  ever  modest  and  unassuming  but  honored  and 
respected  by  all  who  knew  him  and  in  his  death  Hardin  county  lost  one 
of  her  representative  citizens  and  business  men.  In  his  home  life  he 
was  always  gentle  and  kindly  considerate  of  the  wishes  of  others  and 
would  sacrifice  his  own  pleasures  for  the  benefit  of  others.  He  was  a 
man  of  strong  mind  and  always  strove  to  do  good  and  to  live  up  to  a 
high  standard  of  truth,  virtue  and  absolute  honesty.  His  widow  still 
survives  him  and  together  with  her  son  lives  on  the  home  farm. 

William  Cyrus  McGuffey  was  the  only  son  born  to  Cyrus  and 
Miranda  McGuffey  and  was  born  March  11,  1872.  When  twelve  years 
of  age  he  removed  with  his  parents  to  Miami  county,  Indiana.  After 
living  there  for  six  years  he  returned  with  his  parents  to  Hardin  county 
where  he  still  resides.  His  early  education  was  received  at  Rising  Sun 
school  in  Marion  township,  Hardin  county,  later  graduating  from  the 
high  school  at  Gilead,  Indiana.  He  then  attended  school  at  the  Ohio 
Northern  University  at  Ada  and  studied  for  awhile  at  the  Ohio  State 
University  at  Columbus. 

After  leaving  school  he  engaged  with  his  father  in  the  produce 
business  under  the  firm  name  of  Cyrus  McGuffey  & Son.  Since  the 
death  of  his  father  he  still  conducts  the  business  under  the  firm  name. 
While  doing  general  farming  their  specialties  are  onions  and  potatoes ; 
large  quantities  of  which  are  grown  and  shipped  to  any  section  of  the 
country  that  wants  them.  At  present  their  leader  is  upland  grown 
White  Globe  onions.  Mr.  McGuffey  grew  the  first  upland  onions  that 
were  grown  in  a commercial  way  in  this  county.  The  popular  belief  being 
that  it  required  a muck  soil  to  successfully  grow  that  crop  This  enter- 
prise was  begun  some  five  years  ago  and  today  the  upland  grown  onions 
are  a great  factor  in  the  onion  deal. 

The  home  farm  where  W.  C.  McGuffey  lives  is  located  about  one 
quarter  mile  north  of  McGuffey,  Ohio.  This  farm  until  1892  was 
practically  a wilderness.  The  larger  timber  had  been  removed  and 
the  land  had  grown  up  in  brush  until  that  time  when  the  clearing  up 
of  this  farm  began.  The  work  was  pushed  steadily  until  the  sixty 
acres  then  owned  was  all  cleared.  In  1900  the  north  half  of  the  present 
farm  was  purchased  from  Clemuel  R.  McGuffey  and  it  in  turn  cleared. 
This  farm  today  is  one  of  the  best  improved  farms  and  the  residence  of 
Mr.  McGuffey  is  one  of  the  finest  in  the  county.  He  is  a man  of 
splendid  business  ability  and  good  judgment  and  acumen  and  is  generally 
successful  in  his  undertakings.  His  honesty  and  probity  are  unques- 
tioned and  he  merits  and  retains  the  confidence  of  his  fellows. 


ixj 


RESIDENCE  OF  WILLIAM  C.  McGUFFEY 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


793 


On  November  28,  1894,  W.  C.  McGuffey  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Myrtle  J.  Guider,  daughter  of  Carl  A.  and  Marilla  A.  Guider.  Two 
children  have  been  born  of  this  union.  Cyrus  Carl,  born  January  5,  1896, 
and  Eunice  A.,  born  September  1.  1898.  Mr.  McGuffey  is  a member 
of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  the  United  Commercial  Travelers 
and  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks  at  Kenton.  In 
national  politics  he  is  a supporter  of  the  Democratic  party,  but  in  local 
affairs  votes  for  the  men  rather  than  the  party,  choosing  the  men  he 
considers  best  fitted  to  fill  the  office  in  question. 

James  V.  Hill. — Among  the  most  influential  and  substantial  resi- 
dents of  Roundhead  township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  is  James  V.  Hill, 
who  carries  on  farming  and  stock-raising  to  a considerable  extent.  He 
has  other  interests  outside  his  farm,  is  a successful  business  man,  of 
sound  judgment  and  intelligence,  and  interested  in  the  cause  of  progress. 
Mr.  Hill  was  born  December  15,  1875,  son  of  James  R.  and  Elizabeth 
(Goslee)  Hill.  He  is  the  oldest  child  living  by  his  father’s  second 
marriage,  and  was  reared  in  Roundhead  township,  of  which  he  is  a 
native.  He  lived  on  his  father’s  farm  and  attended  the  district  school 
winters,  working  on  the  farm  through  the  summer,  until  he  was  sixteen 
years  of  age,  since  which  he  has  given  his  entire  time  and  attention  to 
his  business  affairs,  farming,  buying  and  selling  stock,  etc.  He  re- 
mained at  home  until  June  12,  1907,  at  which  date  he  marred  Bertie 
Smith,  daughter  of  James  and  Samantha  (Poe)  Smith.  Mrs.  Hill  was 
born  in  McDonald  township,  was  reared  on  a farm,  received  a good 
education  and  became  a teacher  in  McGuffey  and  Roundhead  schools. 
Mr.  Hill  and  his  wife  have  one  son.  James  W.,  born  March  10.  1909. 

Mr.  Hill  is  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  his 
wife  belongs  to  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Roundhead.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  Roundhead  Lodge  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  Kenton  Lodge 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  Politically  he  is  a Democrat, 
was  elected  commissioner  in  1906,  was  reelected  in  1908,  and  at  present 
is  serving  the  second  term,  being  president  of  the  board.  He  served 
four  years  as  township  trustee  before  being  elected  to  his  present  office, 
and  early  took  an  interest  in  public  affairs.  He  is  an  efficient  and 
conscientious  official,  and  highly  esteemed  by  all. 

Mr.  Hill  owns  a farm  in  Roundhead  township,  comprising  two  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres,  and  is  a stockholder  in  the  Belle  Center  Bank. 
He  is  a breeder  of  registered  Ilerford  cattle,  and  is  enterprising  and 
progressive  in  his  manner  of  carrying  on  his  farm. 

C.  W.  Campbell. — Among  the  substantial  and  representative  far- 
mers of  McDonald  township  is  C.  W.  Campbell,  a native  of  the  township, 
born  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides.  May  19,  1857.  He  is  a son  of 
William  B.  and  Jane  A.  (Criswell)  Campbell,  who  formerly  lived  in 
Greenfield.  Ohio,  and  settled  in  Hardin  county  in  1852,  there  spending 
the  remainder  of  their  lives.  Mr.  Campbell  began  clearing  the  farm 
on  which  he  settled,  as  it  was  thickly  wooded,  and  he  improved  his  land 
until  he  had  a good  homestead.  He  was  an  industrious  and  ambitious 


794 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


farmer,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  owned  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
five  acres  of  excellent  farm  land.  He  had  seven  children,  of  whom  C. 
W.  is  the  fifth. 

The  boyhood  of  C.  W.  Campbell  was  spent  on  his  father’s  farm, 
and  when  old  enough  he  began  assisting  with  the  duties  of  farming. 
He  attended  the  district  school  of  his  neighborhood  and  spent  one  term 
at  the  college  in  Geneva.  At  the  death  of  his  father  he  remained  on 
the  farm  and  bought  out  the  interests  of  the  other  heirs,  so  that  he  now 
owns  the  home  farm  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  acres.  Besides 
carrying  on  general  farming  he  has  been  very  successful  in  stock  raising. 
Mr.  Campbell  has  worked  hard  on  the  farm  ever  since  he  was  a boy 
and  fully  understands  the  conditions  which  exist  thereon,  so  he  is  able 
to  make  the  most  possible  profit  from  his  work.  He  worked  for  his 
father  by  the  month  and  saved  enough  money  to  make  a start  in  life, 
and  he  owes  his  present  success  to  his  own  efforts.  He  is  one  of  the 
best  known  men  in  his  community  and  has  the  respect  and  confidence 
of  his  fellows.  Politically  he  is  a Democrat,  and  takes  a keen  interest 
in  public  matters. 

March  6,  1901,  Mr.  Campbell  married  Ada  E.  Greentree,  who  was 
born  August  11,  1883,  on  a farm  adjoining  that  of  her  husband,  and 
here  she  was  reared  to  womanhood.  She  was  educated  in  the  district 
school  and  remained  at  home  until  the  time  of  her  marriage.  To  this 
union  four  children  have  been  born:  Mary  J.,  born  December  28,  1901;, 
Ada  C.,  June  15,  1904;  Elinore,  May  31,  1907,  and  Dora  Mildred,  Sep- 
tember 21,  1908.  Mr.  Campbell  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
United  Presbyterian  church  at  Roundhead,  and  are  active  workers  in  the 
interests  of  same. 

William  Loyd  Harvey  is  prominently  identified  with  ML  Victory 
and  its  interests  as  a merchant.  He  was  born  at  Saratoga,  Indiana, 
March  11,  1883,  a son  of  Thomas  M.  and  Martha  M.  (Thompson)  Harvey. 
On  the  paternal  side  he  traces  descent  to  William  Harvey,  his  great- 
great-grandfather.  This  William  Harvey  was  a sailor  and  a Revolu- 
tionary soldier,  and  a brief  account  of  his  life  is  given  in  the  sketch  of 
Marvin  O.  Harvey.  One  of  William’s  sons  was  Erastus  Harvey,  who 
became  the  great-grandfather  of  William  L.,  and  who  served  as  a drum- 
mer in  the  war  of  1812.  He  came  with  his  brother  Rufus  to  Logan 
county,  Ohio,  but  later  moved  to  Iowa,  where  he  died  in  1859  when 
ninety  years  of  age.  He  was  a Baptist  minister,  and  his  wife  was 
Elizabeth  Bettys. 

Alonzo  Harvey,  a son  of  Erastus  and  Elizabeth  Harvey,  was  born 
in  the  state  of  Vermont  on  the  29th  of  August,  1819.  and  he  came  with 
his  parents  to  Logan  county,  Ohio.  In  1860  he  bought  a farm  in  Union 
county,  this  state,  but  afterward  sold  that  land  and  moved  to  Hardin 
county,  buying  a farm  in  Dudley  township.  He  taught  school  during 
the  winter  months  and  farmed  in  the  summers  from  the  age  of  eighteen 
until  the  age  of  sixty,  and  he  died  in  the  year  of  1888.  On  the  7th  of 
July,  1844.  he  married  Rachel  Ballinger,  who  was  born  on  the  15th  of 
September,  1823,  and  died  on  the  10th  of  September,  1905.  She  was  a 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


795 


daughter  of  Caleb  Ballinger,  born  in  the  year  of  1794,  and  of  Rebecca 
(Bronson)  Ballinger,  born  in  1796.  They  came  from  Virginia  to  Ohio, 
and  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  of  Union  county.  Caleb  Ballinger 
was  a Methodist  minister.  The  following  children  blessed  the  marriage 
union  of  Alonzo  and  Rachel  Harvey:  William,  a carpenter;  Irwin  Har- 
ley, a farmer  in  Hardin  county;  Mary  Melvina,  widow  of  George  Thomp- 
son and  a resident  of  Mt.  Victory;  Julius  Oscar;  and  Thomas  M. 

Thomas  M.  Harvey  was  born  in  Union  county,  Ohio,  July  9,  1853. 
After  leaving  school  at  the  age  of  sixteen  he  farmed  with  his  father  until 
he  reached  the  age  of  nineteen,  and  he  then  married  and  farmed  for 
himself  during  the  following  six  years.  During  that  time  he  also 
studied  for  the  ministry  in  the  United  Brethren  church,  and  three  years 
later  became  pastor  of  the  church  at  Ottawa  Corners.  During  the  many 
years  of  his  long  and  active  life  he  labored  as  a minister  throughout 
many  parts  of  Indiana,  his  ministry  covering  twenty-five  years  of  effi- 
cient and  active  service,  and  he  died  on  the  17th  of  June.  1908.  In  the 
meantime  he  had  purchased  a farm,  and  he  placed  his  sons  thereon  as 
managers,  he  continuing  to  devote  his  life  to  the  work  of  his  church, 
On  the  3d  of  July,  1872,  the  Rev.  Thomas  M.  Harvey  married  Martha 
M.  Thompson,  who  still  survives  him  and  is  now  fifty-nine  years  of  age. 
She  is  a daughter  of  Anderson  and  Anna  (Conklin)  Thompson,  and  is 
the  mother  of  the  following  children : Myrtle,  the  wife  of  Peter  Miller, 
and  they  have  two  children;  Marvin  O.,  a merchant  in  Mt.  Victory; 
Homer,  who  is  farming  in  Hale  township,  Hardin  county;  Nellie,  the 
wife  of  Harry  Hatcher,  a farmer  living  in  kit.  Victory;  William  L., 
the  immediate  subject  of  this  sketch ; and  Mary,  deceased. 

Anderson  Thompson,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Harvey,  was  born  in 
Union  county,  Ohio.  In  1859  he  moved  to  Hardin  county,  Dudley 
township  with  his  family  remaining  until  1868,  when  he  went  to  Hale 
township,  where  he  farmed  until  his  death,  1896,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
seven.  His  father,  William  Thompson,  came  as  a boy  from  Virginia, 
and  settled  in  Union  county,  Ohio,  where  he  farmed  all  his  life.  His 
wife  was  Elizabeth  Graham.  The  father  of  William  Thompson,  John 
Thompson,  was  the  owner  of  a very  large  plantation  in  West  Virginia 
and  had  many  slaves.  Anderson  Thompson  first  settled  on  forty  acres 
of  the  old  Harvey  homestead  in  Dudley  township,  and  besides  working 
his  farm  he  also  operated  a brick  kiln.  After  his  marriage  he  made  all 
his  own  household  furniture,  and  as  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Harvey,  relates, 
that  he  made  the  first  payments  of  his  farm  by  selling  hickory  nuts. 
During  the  Civil  war  he  was  drafted,  and  as  he  could  not  leave  his  family 
sent  a substitute.  He  was  a member  of  the  Christian  church  and  for 
many  years  a deacon.  He  was  chaplain  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.  and  charter 
member  of  Mt.  Victory  Lodge.  In  politics  he  was  a Democrat,  and  a 
very  active  worker  in  his  party.  His  wife,  Ann  Conklin,  was  a daughter 
of  William  and  Rebecca  (Coleman),  and  they  were  natives  of  Union 
county.  She  died  in  1897,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight.  Her  grand- 
father was  captured  by  the  British  during  the  Revolutionary  war.  He 
managed  to  escape  during  a skating  exhibition  which  was  gotten  up  to 
amuse  the  British  soldiers.  Of  the  eight  children  in  the  family  of 


796 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Anderson  Thompson  bnt,  one  besides  Mrs.  Harvey  is  living.  He  is 
John  Thompson,  of  Kenton,  in  the  real  estate  business.  Mrs.  Harvey 
makes  her  home  at  Collett,  Indiana.  She  is  engaged  in  ministering  in 
the  United  Brethren  church  being  in  charge  of  the  United  Brethren 
church  conference  for  the  past  six  years  as  itinerant  minister,  she  being 
the  first,  lady  given  this  work  for  her  church. 

William  D.  Harvey  received  a common  and  high  school  training  in 
Mt.  Victory,  graduating  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  and  he  afterward  taught 
two  terms  of  school  in  Hardin  county  and  two  terms  in  Mercer  county. 
He  then  left  the  professional  for  a business  life,  farming  for  himself  for 
three  years,  and  in  1906  he  bought  the  Butler  Brothers  interest  in  his 
present  mercantile  business,  his  partner  being  his  brother-in-law,  G.  W. 
Rutledge.  He  is  a Republican  in  his  political  affiliations,  and  he  has 
served  Mt.  Victory  as  a member  of  its  council  and  his  community  as 
corporation  and  township  treasurer. 

On  the  6th  of  November,  1902,  Mr.  Harvey  was  married  to  Eva  P. 
Rutledge,  who  was  born  in  Mercer  county,  Ohio,  July  3,  1884,  a daughter 
of  Joseph  and  Caroline  (Early)  Rutledge,  farming  people  in  Mercer 
county.  Their  family  numbered  the  following  children  : Elmer,  farm- 
ing in  Mercer  county ; George,  a Mt.  Victory  merchant ; and  Harvey, 
Charley,  Otis,  Lula,  Hazel  and  Cora,  at  home  with  their  parents.  The 
five  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harvey  are : Mavis,  Loyd,  Edith,  Alton, 
and  Mildred.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harvey  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
church,  and  Mr.  Harvey  is  servng  his  church  as  one  of  its  stewards. 

Marvin  O.  Harvey,  prominently  numbered  among  the  business  men 
of  Mt.  Victory,  is  a well  known  hardware  merchant.  He  was  born  in 
Dudley  township,  Hardin  county  on  the  5tli  of  September,  1875,  and 
on  the  paternal  side  he  traces  descent  to  William  Harvey,  his  great- 
great-grandfather.  This  William  Harvey  was  a sailor  and  a Revo- 
lutionary soldier.  The  parents  of  William  Harvey  came  from  Scotland 
in  1730,  and  settled  in  Windsor  county,  Connecticut.  Their  son,  Wil- 
liam, was  born  at  East  Haddon,  October  26,  1754.  At  the  early  age  of 
fifteen  he  was  a sailor  on  the  vessel  plying  along  the  New  England  coast. 
At  the  beginning  of  the  Revolutionary  war  he  joined  the  Continental 
army,  and  was  in  the  first  battles  around  Boston.  After  the  evacuation 
of  Boston,  he  entered  the  navy  and  was  sent  on  an  expedition  up  North 
river  and  later  detailed  on  a voyage  to  the  West  Indies.  On  this  trip 
he  was  captured  by  a British  man  of  war  and  taken  to  prison  at 
Providence,  Rhode  Island.  Here  he  was  released  in  what  was  thought 
to  be  a dying  condition,  but  after  a time  he  reenlisted  in  the  Continental 
army  for  three  years  and  served  under  General  Washington.  In  the 
year  1780  he  was  again  sent  to  the  West  Indies,  and  again  he  was  taken 
prisoner,  and  remained  in  the  Bermuda  Isles  till  the  end  of  the  war. 
He  continued  his  sea  voyages  until  1793  when  he  moved  with  his  family 
to  Lyndon,  Vermont,  where  he  died  in  1826.  He  had  married  an 
English  lady,  Jane  Bebee,  and  she  survived  him  until  1840,  dying  in 
Champaign  county,  Ohio.  One  of  his  sons  was  Rev.  Erastus  Harvey, 
who  became  the  great-grandfather  of  Marvin  O.  of  this  sketch.  Rev. 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


797 


Harvey  was  born  in  East  Haddon,  Vermont,  March  8,  1789.  He  was 
ordained  in  the  Baptist  ministry  in  August,  1825,  and  served  for  some 
time  in  Vermont,  later  coming  to  Ohio  and  ministering  in  Champaign, 
Clark  and  Union  counties.  During  the  war  of  1812,  he  served  five 
years  in  the  United  States  service  as  drummer  boy.  Three  of  his 
brothers,  like  their  father,  followed  the  sea.  On  one  of  the  voyages  all 
three  went  on  the  same  vessel  and  were  never  after  heard  from.  In 
1816  he  married  Elizabeth  Bettys,  of  Woodbury,  Vermont,  and  they 
reared  a family  of  thirteen  children.  Two  of  the  sons  died  during  the 
Civil  war.  There  were  two  ministers  and  a physician  among  his 
children. 

Alonzo  Harvey,  a son  of  Erastus  and  Elizabeth  Harvey,  was  born  in 
the  state  of  Vermont  on  the  29th  of  August,  1819,  and  he  came  with  his 
parents  to  Logan  county,  Ohio.  In  1860  he  bought  a farm  in  Union 
county,  this  state,  but  afterward  sold  that  land  and  moved  to  Hardin 
county,  buying  a farm  in  Dudley  township.  He  taught  school  during 
the  winter  months  and  farmed  in  the  summers  from  the  age  of  eighteen 
until  the  age  of  sixty,  and  he  died  in  the  year  of  1888.  On  the  7th  of 
July,  1844,  he  married  Rachel  Ballinger,  who  was  born  on  the  15th  of 
September,  1823,  and  died  on  the  10th  of  September,  1906.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  Caleb  Ballinger,  born  in  the  year  of  1794,  and  of  Rebecca 
(Bronson)  Ballinger,  born  in  1796.  They  came  from  Virginia  to  Ohio, 
and  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  of  Union  county.  Caleb  Ballinger 
was  a Methodist  minister.  The  following  children  blessed  the  marriage 
union  of  Alonzo  and  Rachel  Harvey : William,  a carpenter ; Irwin  Har- 
ley, a farmer  in  Hardin  county ; Mary  Melvina,  Avidow  of  George  Thomp- 
son and  a resident  of  Mt.  Victory;  Julius  0.;  and  Thomas  M. 

Thomas  M.  Harvey  Avas  born  in  Union  county,  Ohio,  July  9,  1853. 
After  leaving  school  at  the  age  of  sixteen  he  farmed  Avith  his  father  until 
he  reached  the  age  of  nineteen,  and  he  then  married  and  farmed  for 
himself  during  the  folloAAung  six  years.  During  that  time  he  also 
studied  for  the  ministry  in  the  United  Brethren  church,  and  three  years 
later  became  pastor  of  the  church  at  Ottawa  Corners.  During  the  many 
years  of  his  long  and  active  life  he  labored  as  a minister  throughout 
many  parts  of  Indiana,  his  ministry  covering  twenty-five  years  of 
efficient  and  active  service,  and  he  died  on  the  17th  of  June,  1908.  In 
the  meantime  he  had  purchased  a farm,  and  he  placed  his  sons  thereon  as 
managers,  he  continuing  to  devote  his  life  to  the  work  of  his  church. 
On  the  3d  of  July,  1872,  the  Rev.  Thomas  M.  Harvey  married  Martha 
M.  Thompson.  Avho  still  survives  him  and  is  now  fifty-nine  years  of  age. 
She  is  a daughter  of  Anderson  and  Anna  (Conklin)  Thompson,  and  she 
is  the  mother  of  the  following  children : Myrtle,  the  wife  of  Peter  Miller, 
and  they  have  two  children ; Marvin  O.,  the  immediate  subject  of  this 
sketch ; Homer,  who  is  farming  in  Hale  toAvnship,  Hardin  county ; 
Nellie,  the  wife  of  Harry  Hatcher,  a farmer  living  in  Mt.  Victory ; 
William  L.,  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  in  Mt.  Victory;  and  Mary, 
deceased.  In  the  sketch  of  William  L.  Harvey  is  given  a sketch  of  the 
Thompson  family. 

Marvin  0.  Harvey  after  leaving  school  at  the  age  of  fourteen  \Arorked 

Vol.  11—23 


798 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


three  years  in  a churn  factory,  and  from  that  time  until  he  attained  the 
age  of  twenty-two  he  was  again  in  school.  During  two  terms  he  at- 
tended Ada  University,  and  after  his  graduation  from  that  institution 
he  taught  school  for  nine  years  in  Dudley  and  Hale  townships.  On 
account  of  the  ill  health  of  his  wife  he  sold  his  farm  and  moved  to 
California,  where  for  two  years  he  was  engaged  in  a mercantile  business, 
and  then  returning  to  Ohio  he  settled  at  Mt.  Victory  and  bought  the 
hardware  store  of  Johnson  and  Ballinger  and  has  since  been  engaged  in 
business  along  this  line,  conducting  at  the  present  time  one  of  the  largest 
hardware  stores  in  this  section.  He  is  a Democrat  in  his  political  affilia- 
tions, and  has  served  his  community  as  a justice  of  the  peace. 

Mr.  Harvey  married  on  the  13th  of  September.  1899,  Edna  Lingo, 
who  was  born  on  the  6th  of  July,  1879,  a daughter  of  Alvin  Lingo,  men- 
tioned elsewhere  in  this  work.  Their  children  are  Clarinel,  Merrill, 
Russell.  Dwight  and  Louise.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harvey  are  members 
of  the  United  Brethren  church. 

John  W.  Zimmerman. — It  is  a matter  of  gratification  to  the  editors 
and  publishers  of  this  history  of  Hardin  county  to  be  able  to  incorporate 
within  its  pages  a brief  review  of  the  career  of  this  sterling  citizen  and 
successful  agriculturist  of  Hardin  county,  where  he  has  passed  his 
entire  life,  being  a scion  of  one  of  the  honore'd  pioneer  families  of  this 
section  of  the  Reserve,  with  whose  annals  the  name  has  been  identified 
for  four  generations — representing  a period  of  nearly  seventy  years. 

Mr.  Zimmerman  was  born  in  McDonald  township,  Hardin  county, 
on  the  29th  of  July,  1857,  and  is  a son  of  Humphrey  J.  and  Susan 
(Wright)  Zimmerman,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  Ross  county, 
this  state,  about  the  year  1828,  and  the  latter  of  whom  was  born  in 
Fayette  county,  in  1832.  Humphrey  J.  Zimmerman  was  a child  of 
about  six  years  at  the  time  of  his  parents’  removal  from  Ross  county  to 
Hardin  county,  where  his  father,  John  Zimmerman,  secured  a tract  of 
wild  and  heavily  timbered  land,  in  the  south  part  of  McDonald  township, 
In  a log  cabin  of  the  type  common  to  the  pioneer  epoch  was  established 
the  family  home  and  then  came  the  task  of  reclaiming  the  land  to 
cultivation.  Here  the  parents  of  Humphrey  J.  Zimmerman  passed  the 
residue  of  their  lives,  living  up  to  the  full  tension,  the  deprivations  and 
vicissitudes  of  pioneer  days,  and  here  he  himself  was  reared  to  manhood, 
his  educational  advantages  being  limited  to  the  primitive  subscription 
schools,  and  even  as  a boy  he  began  to  lend  his  aid  in  the  development 
and  other  work  of  the  home  farm.  At  the  age  of  twenty-two  years  he 
was  married,  and  later  he  became  the  owner  of  the  fine  homestead  farm 
now  owned  and  occupied  by  his  eldest  son.  the  subject  of  this  review. 
He  was  one  of  the  successful  farmers  of  the  county,  a man  of  sterling 
integrity  and  of  indefatigable  industry,  and  he  did  well  his  part  in 
connection  with  the  civic  and  industrial  development  of  this  now  favored 
section  of  the  fine  old  Western  Reserve.  His  name  is  well  entitled  to  a 
place  of  honor  on  the  roll  of  the  sturdy  and  valued  pioneers  of  Hardin 
county,  where  he  continued  to  reside  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
1895,  his  cherished  and  devoted  wife  having  passed  away  in  1867. 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


799 


Humphrey  J.  Zimmerman  was  married  to  Emely  Dolph  of  Roundhead, 
December  25,  1870,  and  died  May  22,  1895,  a few  months  before  his 
father’s  death.  In  politics  Humphrey  J.  Zimmerman  was  originally  a 
Whig  and  later  a Republican.  Of  the  seven  children  born  to  him  four 
lived  to  years  of  maturity:  John  W.,  whose  name  initiates  this  article, 
being  the  eldest  of  this  number ; Eliza  J.  became  the  wife  of  George 
Tidcl  and  is  now  deceased;  Samantha  is  the  wife  of  Wesley  McCoy,  of 
Lima,  Ohio ; and  Lawson  L.  is  a representative  farmer  of  Roundhead 
township. 

John  AY.  Zimmerman  was  reared  to  manhood  on  the  old  home 
farm  in  McDonald  township,  and  to  the  common  schools  of  that  section 
he  is  indebted  for  his  early  educational  discipline.  He  continued  to  be 
associated  in  the  work  and  management  of  the  home  farm  until  his 
marriage,  at  which  time  he  was  twenty-six  years  of  age.  He  soon 
afterward  turned  his  attention  to  the  buying  of  live  stock,  being  thus 
employed  by  David  Cole  and  Jake  Wise  of  Forest,  Ohio,  for  several 
years,  after  which  he  engaged  independently  and  successfully  in  the 
buying  and  shipping  of  live  stock.  After  the  death  of  his  honored 
father  he  purchased  the  interests  of  the  other  heirs  to  the  old  homestead 
farm,  which  comprised  one  hundred  and  thirty-seven  and  one-half  acres, 
and  his  ability  as  a business  man,  together  with  his  progressive  policies 
and  discrimination  in  connection  with  the  great  basic  industry  of 
agriculture,  is  best  vouched  for  in  the  splendid  success  which  he  has 
gained.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  a landed  estate  of  eight  hundred  and 
forty-five  acres,  of  which  six  hundred  and  ten  acres  are  located  in 
Hardin  county;  forty  acres  in  Auglaize  county;  seventy-five  acres  in 
Logan  county;  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  Jasper  county, 
Indiana,  Aipon  which  last  mentioned  farm  his  eldest  son,  Arthur  R, 
Zimmerman  resides.  On  his  finely  improved  homestead  farm,  one  of 
the  model  places  not  only  of  Roundhead  township  but  of  Hardin  county, 
Mr.  Zimmerman  erected  in  1901  his  attractive  and  spacious  modern 
residence,  which  contains  fifteen  rooms,  has  more  than  one  hundred 
feet  of  verandas,  with  basement  under  the  entire  building.  The  house 
is  heated  by  furnace  and  Avas  erected  at  a cost  of  more  than  four  thous- 
and dollars,  being  one  of  the  finest  farm  homes  of  this  section  and  being 
notable  for  its  generous  and  gracious  hospitality.  The  timber  for  the 
building  was  secured  almost  entirely  from  the  farms  of  Mr.  Zimmerman, 
and  the  appointments  and  finishings  of  the  building  throughout  are  of 
the  most  attractive  order.  In  politics  Mr.  Zimmerman  is  a stanch  sup- 
porter of  the  cause  of  the  Republican  party  and  while  he  takes  a loyal 
and  helpful  interest  in  all  that  concerns  the  welfare  of  the  community 
he  has  never  been  an  aspirant  for  public  office,  the  only  official  position 
in  which  he  has  consented  to  serve  being  that  of  member  of  the  school 
board  of  hs  district.  He  is  known  as  a progressive,  liberal  and  honor- 
able citizen  and  is  held  in  unqualified  esteem  in  the  community  that  has 
ever  represented  his  home  and  to  whose  social  and  material  advancement 
he  has  contributed  a due  quota. 

On  the  29th  of  July,  1883.  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Zimmerman  to  Miss  Anna  Older,  who  was  born  in  Roundhead  toAvnship, 


8U0 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Hardin  county,  on  the  27th  of  May,  1862,  and  who  is  a daughter  of 
William  and  Martha  Ohler,  who  were  honored  pioneers  of  the  county, 
where  they  continued  to  reside  until  their  death.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Zimmerman  became  the  parents  of  nine  children,  all  of  whom  are  living 
and  the  four  eldest  of  whom  are  married  and  established  in  homes  of 
their  own.  The  names  of  the  children,  with  respective  dates  of  birth, 
are  here  entered:  Arthur  R.,  July  8,  1884;  Clara  M.,  April  2,  1886; 
Esta  L.,  November  8,  1888;  James  D.,  September  23,  1890;  John, 
February  22,  1893 ; Susan,  November  4,  1895 ; Lloyd,  October  12,  1897 ; 
Noble,  May  25,  1901;  and  Martha  E.,  January  21,  1907.  Arthur  R., 
who  resides  in  Jasper  county,  Indiana,  as  already  noted,  married  Miss 
Lucretia  Hankins,  and  they  have  one  child  named  after  his  grandfather, 
John  W. ; Clara  is  the  wife  of  Thomas  Plummer,  of  Huntsville,  Logan 
county,  and  has  two  boys ; Esta  L.  is  the  wife  of  Midd  Gossard,  of 
Harrod,  Ohio ; and  James  D.,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  on  his  grand- 
father Ohler ’s  old  homestead  near  Roundhead,  which  John  W.  and  Anna 
his  wife  purchased  after  William  and  Martha  Ohler ’s  death.  James  D. 
married  Miss  Opal  Harbert.  All  the  children  are  farmers. 

James  R.  Burnison. — Prominent  among  the  thriving  and  progres- 
sive agriculturists  of  Hardin  county  is  James  R.  Burnison,  whose  fine 
estate,  adjoining  the  city  of  Kenton,  is  finely  improved,  and  constitutes 
one  of  the  most  valuable  and  desirable  farming  properties  in  the  neigh- 
borhood. He  was  born  January  4,  1864,  in  Wyandot  county,  Ohio, 
where  his  father,  the  late  Andrew  W.  Burnison,  was  a pioneer  settler. 

Andrew  W.  Burnison  was  born  January  30,  1828,  and  was  reared  in 
Stark  county,  Ohio.  March  24,  1852,  he  was  married  to  Jane  B. 
Melvin  and  to  this  union  two  children  were  born : Josephine,  born 

December  13,  1854,  and  John  W.  born  June  15,  1857.  In  the  year  1858, 
after  the  death  of  his  wife,  Mr.  Burnison  removed  to  Wyandot  county 
and  here  was  employed  in  general  farming  on  Whetstone  creek.  On 
March  26,  1859,  he  was  again  married,  the  name  of  his  second  wife 
being  Margaret  A.  Baker.  To  this  marriage  four  children  were  born: 
Francis  M.,  born  May  27,  1860;  A.  Ellsworth,  March  6,  1862,  died 
November  21,  1884;  James  R.,  born  January  4,  1864  and  Charles  O., 
April  10,  1873.  In  1864  Andrew  Burnison  removed  with  his  family 
to  Hardin  county,  locating  on  the  Berdine  farm  in  Dudley  and  Goshen 
townships  where  his  youngest  son  was  born.  He  resided  on  this  farm 
until  the  death  of  his  wife  April  8,  1893,  and  then  retired  from  active 
labor,  making  his  home  with  his  children  until  his  death  which  occurred 
October  11,  1899. 

Educated  in  the  public  schools,  James  R.  Burnison  subsequently 
assisted  his  father  on  the  home  farm  until  ready  to  begin  life  for  himself. 
After  his  marriage  he  lived  op  a farm  five  miles  south  of  Kenton  for  two 
years  and  the  following  year  operated  an  elevator  for  the  Marion  Milling 
Company,  in  Hepburn.  He  subsequently  conducted  a general  store  in 
that  place  for  a year,  after  which  he  was  successfully  engaged  in  mer- 
cantile pursuits  in  Alger  until  1901.  In  that  year  Mr.  Burnison  pur- 
chased his  present  farm  of  eighty-six  acres,  which  is  most  advantageously 


s 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


801 


located,  and  is  highly  improved,  being  under  a high  state  of  cultivation, 
with  substantial  and  conveniently  arranged  buildings  for  carrying  on 
his  work  of  a general  farmer  and  dairyman. 

Mr.  Burnison  has  been  twice  married.  He  married  first,  at  the  age 
of  twenty-six,  Edith  Barrett,  who  was  born  in  Goshen  township,  Hardin 
county,  a daughter  of  George  and  Eliza  Barrett.  She  died  two  years 
later,  leaving  one  child,  Helen,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eleven  years. 
Mr.  Burnison  married  second,  in  1899,  Minnie  A.  Myers,  who  was  born 
in  Putnam  county,  Ohio,  a daughter  of  Thomas  V.  Myers,  and  grand- 
daughter of  George  W.  Myers,  a pioneer  settler  of  Franklin  county,  Ohio. 

George  W.  Myers  was  horn  in  Pennsylvania,  of  German  ancestry, 
and  as  a young  man  settled  in  Franklin  county,  Ohio,  becoming  a pioneer 
of  Madison  township,  where  for  many  years  he  followed  his  trade  of  a 
cabinet  maker.  Moving  to  Putnam  county  in  1854,  he  bought  land  and 
was  there  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  the  remainder  of  his  active 
life.  He  married  Margaret  Matilda  Blakely,  who  survived  him  more 
than  a score  of  years,  her  death  occurring  in  1879,  while  his  occurred  in 
1858.  They  became  the  parents  of  eleven  children,  not  a large  family 
in  those  days. 

Thomas  V.  Myers  was  born  September  22,  1846,  in  Madison  town- 
ship, Franklin  county,  Ohio.  His  father  dying  when  he  was  a lad  of 
tender  years,  he  lived  with  his  mother  until  1864,  when  he  enlisted  in 
Company  C,  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-first  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry, 
and  was  mustered  into  service  at  Camp  Chase.  Joining  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  he  was  on  guard  duty  at  the  Capitol 
for  some  time.  The  most  important  battle  in  which  he  took  part  was 
one  at  Fort  Stevens.  Receiving  his  honorable  discharge  in  September, 
1864,  Mr.  Myers  returned  to  Putnam  county  and  resumed  his  agricul- 
tural labors.  Buying  a farm,  subsequently,  in  Sugar  Creek  township, 
he  lived  there  until  1884,  when  he  purchased  the  farm  which  he  now  owns 
and  occupies,  in  Sugar  Creek  township,  Putnam  county. 

Thomas  V.  Myers  married,  in  1867,  Matilda  F.  Garner,  who  was 
born  in  Sugar  Creek  township,  Putnam  county,  December  6,  1843.  Her 
father,  William  Garner,  born  near  Culpeper  Court  House,  Virginia,  was 
one  of  the  early  settlers  of  that  township,  where  he  entered  a tract  of 
government  land,  and  there  built  the  humble  log  cabin  in  which  his 
daughter  Matilda  was  born.  Both  he  and  his  wife,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Elizabeth  Stover,  spent  their  last  years  on  the  homestead  which 
they  improved  from  the  forest. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Burnison  is  a member  of  Latham  Lodge,  No.  154, 
F.  & A.  M. ; and  also  belongs  to  Hopkins  Lodge,  No.  619,  K.  of  P., 
being  a charter  member. 

Frank  M.  McKinley,  a well  known  and  prosperous  citizen  of 
Hardin  county,  Ohio,  is  a member  of  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  the 
state.  He  was  born  August  12,  1857,  in  Champaign  county,  Ohio,  and 
is  a son  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Pence)  McKinley,  both  also  natives 
of  Champaign  county,  the  former  born  November  28,  1832.  William 
McKinley  is  a son  of  William  and  Mary  (McKinley)  McKinley,  the 


802 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


former  born  in  Kentucky  and  the  latter  in  Monmouth  county,  Ohio. 
Though  they  bore  the  same  surname  they  were  not  closely  related. 
William  McKinley,  Sr.,  was  a son  of  Michael  McKinley,  a soldier  in  the 
Revolution.  The  McKinleys  are  of  Scotch-Irish  origin,  and  there  is 
a tradition  that  Michael  McKinley  was  a brother  of  the  grandfather  of 
the  late  president,  William  McKinley,  although  the  fact  has  not  been 
established  beyond  doubt.  Michael  McKinley  married  a German 
woman,  and  they  had  sons  John,  Peter  and  William. 

William,  son  of  Michael  McKinley,  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Champaign  county,  Ohio,  and  bought  one  hundred  acres  there,  paying 
for  it  working  by  the  day,  and  he  walked  seven  miles  to  and  from  this 
work.  He  was  a prominent  man  in  the  community  and  served  his 
country  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  and  his  wife  were  parents  of  children, 
namely:  Sarah,  Nancy,  Mahala,  Margaret,  William,  Mary,  Lucinda 

and  Michael. 

William  McKinley,  Jr.,  was  married  in  Champaign  county,  Ohio, 
by  Reverend  D.  E.  Scott,  October  2,  1855;  he  and  his  wife  removed  to 
Jackson  township,  Hardin  county,  March  9,  1861.  Here  he  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  land  in  its  virgin  state,  cleared  his  land,  and  became  a 
successful  farmer.  He  now  has  a well  tilled  farm,  well  equipped  with 
machinery,  and  a comfortable  home.  He  is  a member  of  the  Baptist 
church.  William  McKinley  and  his  wife  became  parents  of  the  follow- 
ing children:  Frank  M.,  Aaron  P.,  Mary  T.,  Marie,  Sarah  E.,  Earl 

(deceased)  and  Arlo  (twins),  Lou  E.  (deceased)  and  William  P. 

Frank  M.  McKinley  has  spent  most  of  his  life  in  Jackson  township, 
Hardin  county,  where  he  was  reared  and  educated.  He  now  owns  an 
eighty-acre  farm,  with  first  class  barns  and  other  buildings,  and  his  land 
is  in  a high  state  of  cultivation.  lie  has  a very  comfortable  home, 
which  is  heated  and  lighted  by  gas  which  he  obtains  just  outside  his 
door,  and  enjoys  all  modern  comforts  and  conveniences.  In  1879  he 
purchased  his  first  forty  acres  of  land,  adding  another  forty  acres  in 
1897. 

Mr.  McKinley  also  owns  two  threshing  machines,  and  these  he 
operates  during  the  season ; he  has  followed  this  business  for  thirty-two 
years  with  gratifying  success,  and  has  never  met  with  an  accident.  He 
is  an  industrious  and  enterprising  man  of  affairs,  and  was  one  of  the 
contractors  for  the  construction  of  the  McKinley  and  Kelly  Pike.  Mr. 
McKinley  is  an  earnest  member  of  the  Baptist  church  of  Forest.  By 
the  nature  of  his  business  interests  Mr.  McKinley  meets  a great  many 
people,  and  is  one  of  the  highly  respected  and  popular  citizens  of  the 
county. 

In  1883  Mr.  McKinley  was  united  in  marriage  with  Wilhelmina 
Buess,  who  was  born  in  1857,  and  to  this  union  have  been  born  six 
children,  namely:  James,  Otto  B.,  Anna  E.,  Edith  G.,  Gladys  C.  and 
Joe. 


George  W.  Lipoed. — A systematic  and  thorough-going  agriculturist, 
George  W.  Lipoid  is  engaged  in  his  free  and  independent  calling  on  a 
highly  improved  farm  in  Pleasant  township,  Hardin  county,  where  he  is 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


803 


meeting  with  excellent  pecuniary  results,  his  land  being  rich  and  pro- 
ductive. Coming  on  both  sides  of  the  house  from  German  ancestry,  he 
was  born,  February  18,  1861,  in  Pleasant  township,  being  a son  of  the 
late  Albert  Lipoid. 

Emigrating  from  Germany,  his  native  land,  to  the  United  States  in 
1856,  Albert  Lipoid  lived  for  a year  in  Canton,  Ohio.  The  following 
year  he  came  with  his  family  to  Hardin  county,  and  immediately  bought 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  in  Pleasant  township.  He 
cleared  and  improved  a homestead,  which,  with  fifty-six  acres  since  added 
by  his  sons,  who  purchased  it,  still  remains  in  the  family.  Here  he 
carried  on  general  farming  to  advantage  for  many  years,  residing  on  it 
until  his  death,  July  2,  1880.  He  married  Mary  Lipoid,  also  a native 
of  the  Fatherland,  and  she  still  survives.  Five  children  were  born  to 
them,  as  follows : Nicholas,  Andrew,  Albert,  George  W.,  and  William. 

Having  completed  his  studies  in  the  district  schools  of  his  native 
township,  George  W.  Lipoid  served  an  apprenticeship  at  the  carpenter’s 
trade.  He  was  afterwards  in  the  employ  of  the  Big  Four  Railroad 
Company  for  four  years,  subsequently  working  for  other  concerns  for  a 
period  of  six  years.  He  then  turned  his  attention  to  the  occupation  of 
his  youthful  days,  and  in  1898  bought  his  present  farm  in  Pleasant 
township.  It  contains  as  fine  farming  land  as  can  be  found  in  this 
locality,  and  under  his  wise  management  is  highly  cultivated  and  im- 
proved, everything  about  the  premises  indicating  the  existence  of 
cultivated  tastes  and  ample  means.  In  1906  Mr.  Lipoid  built  a com- 
modious residence,  with  all  modern  conveniences,  and  he  has  besides 
convenient  buildings  for  housing  his  stock  and  his  bountiful  crops. 

Mr.  Lipoid  married,  in  1898,  Anna,  daughter  of  John  G.  and 
Hannah  Loop,  and  into  their  home  two  children  have  made  their  advent, 
namely:  Goldie,  born  June  10,  1900;  and  William,  born  July  30,  1902. 

John  S.  Harvey,  a prominent  and  enterprising  farmer  of  Dudley 
township,  Hardin  county,  was  born  on  the  old  Harvey  homestead,  Sep- 
tember 5,  1875,  and  is  a son  of  Julius  O.  and  Sarah  (Sullivan)  Harvey. 
The  ancestry  of  the  Haiwey  family  is  given  further  mention  in  connec- 
tion with  the  sketches  of  William  L.  and  Marvin  O.  Harvey,  of  Mt. 
Victory,  contained  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Sarah  Sullivan  was  born  in 
Ross  county,  Ohio,  March  22,  1836,  a daughter  of  Henry  Sullivan,  a 
native  of  Virginia,  who  died  in  February,  1871,  at  the  age  of  fifty-five 
years.  He  came  to  Logan  county,  Ohio,  where  he  lived  until  1838,  and 
then  removed  to  Perry  county,  Illinois,  and  there  carried  on  farming 
until  his  death.  He  married  Elizabeth  Wilgues,  a native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, who  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-three  years.  Sarah  Sullivan 
returned  to  Hardin  county  in  1866,  and  after  her  marriage  to  Mr. 
Harvey  lived  in  Mt.  Victory.  She  now  lives  on  the  farm  with  her 
son  John  S.  Mrs.  Harvey  has  one  brother  living,  James  Sullivan,  a 
retired  farmer  of  Iola,  Kansas.  The  present  home  of  Mrs.  Harvey  and 
her  son  is  the  old  homestead  of  the  Harvey  family. 

After  receiving  a good  education  in  the  public  schools,  John  S. 
Harvey  worked  on  the  old  home  farm  with  his  brother,  commencing 


804 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


active  work  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years.  He  has  made  many  improve- 
ments on  the  farm,  which  has  been  brought  to  a high  state  of  cultivation 
and  where  there  is  a fine  maple  grove.  He  carries  on  general  farming 
and  makes  a specialty  of  stock  raising.  Mr.  Harvey  is  an  earnest 
member  of  the  United  Brethren  church.  He  is  an  active  Republican 
and  takes  great  interest  in  the  success  of  his  party.  He  is  a member  of 
the  school  board,  is  central  committeeman  and  has  served  several  times  as 
delegate  to  various  party  conventions. 

October  26,  1898,  Mr.  Harvey  married  Willa  Lusanna  Lingo,  who 
was  born  October  5,  1879,  daughter  of  James  LI.  and  Harriet  (Williams) 
Lingo.  Mr.  Lingo  lives  in  Dudley  township ; his  wife  is  a daughter  of 
Anderson  Williams,  an  old  pioneer.  Mrs.  Llarvey  had  two  sisters, 
both  of  whom  are  deceased,  and  she  was  the  youngest  of  the  family. 
Mrs.  Harvey  died  April  29,  1906,  and  her  loss  was  deeply  felt  in  the 
community.  She  was  a devout,  earnest  Christian,  having  been  a mem- 
ber of  the  church  since  the  age  of  eleven  years.  She  died  after  an 
illness  of  one  year,  a patient,  uncomplaining  sufferer,  whose  chief 
thought  was  always  for  the  comfort  and  well-being  of  her  husband  and 
child ; she  had  a lovely  disposition,  and  her  high  character  and  beautiful 
life  made  her  beloved  by  all  who  knew  her.  Her  good  deeds  were  not 
confined  to  the  members  of  her  immediate  family,  and  she  was  always 
ready  to  lend  her  assistance  to  all  who  were  in  need  of  help  or  comfort, 
and  her  example  has  served  as  an  inspiration  to  many.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Harvey  had  two  children:  One  born  February  29,  1904,  died  March 

11,  1904,  and  Irene  Cleone,  born  October  22,  1899. 

Alonzo  T.  Harvey. — Farming  operations  in  Hardin  county,  Ohio, 
are  very  profitable,  and  among  those  who  have  won  success  along  this 
line  is  Alonzo  T.  Harvey,  of  Dudley  township.  Mr.  Llarvey  was  born 
in  Taylor  Creek,  Ohio,  June  29,  1874,  and  is  a son  of  Julius  Oscar  and 
Sarah  (Sullivan)  Harvey,  the  former  of  whom  died  June  11,  1898,  and 
the  latter  resides  with  Alonzo’s  brother,  John  S.  Harvey,  having  at- 
tained the  age  of  seventy-five  years.  Mrs.  Harvey  is  given  mention  at 
length  in  connection  with  the  sketch  of  her  son,  John  S.,  found  elsewhere 
in  this  work.  The  ancestry  of  the  Llarvey  family  is  to  be  found  in 
connection  with  the  sketches  of  Marvin  0.  and  William  L.  Harvey,  of 
Mt.  Victory,  also  to  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  work.  J.  O.  llarvey  and 
his  wife  had  three  children,  namely : Alonzo  T. ; John  S.,  a farmer  of 
Dudley  township ; and  Oeis,  wife  of  Carl  Latimer,  of  Marion,  Ohio. 

After  receiving  a good  education  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
place,  Mr.  Harvey  began  helping  on  his  father’s  farm  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  years.  He  remained  at  home  until  his  marriage  in  1894,  when 
he  bought  his  present  farm  of  seventy  acres,  which  was  little  improved. 
He  has  brought  the  condition  of  the  farm  up  to  a high  standard,  and 
now  has  one  of  the  most  attractive  and  best  improved  farms  in  this 
section  of  the  country.  He  carries  on  general  farming  and  stock  rais- 
ing, and  being  enterprising  and  thrifty,  has  been  accordingly  rewarded 
for  his  labor.  Mr.  Harvey  owns  one  of  the  best  known  horses  in  Hardin 
county,  the  stallion  “Liberty,”  of  the  Pereheron  breed,  Registered  No. 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


805 


25,799,  foaled  April  29,  1900,  at  West  Liberty,  Ohio,  by  Boulanger 
(No.  11,352),  the  latter  by  Peoria  and  Brilliant. 

Mr.  Harvey  is  a member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  of  Mt.  Victory. 
Politically  he  is  an  active  supporter  of  the  Republican  party,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  high  school  board.  Mr.  Harvey  is  well  known  in  the 
county,  and  is  accounted  one  of  its  useful,  representative  citizens. 

In  October,  1894,  Mr.  Harvey  married  Olive  Smith,  who  was  born 
in  Dudley  township,  December  24,  1874,  daughter  of  Samuel  Smith,  who 
died  in  1890,  at  the  age  of  forty-seven  years.  He  was  born  in  Logan 
county,  and  removed  to  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  with  his  parents,  when  he 
was  seven  years  of  age.  His  parents,  Jonathan  and  Susan  (Cunning- 
ham) Smith,  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  of  Hardin  county.  Jona- 
than Smith  died  in  1868,  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years ; he  came  from 
Maryland  to  what  later  became  Washington  county,  Ohio,  and  there 
followed  farming  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  assisted  in  building 
the  old  stage  road.  He  came  to  Hardin  county  in  1845,  and  settled  in 
Dudley  township,  near  the  present  family  homestead,  containing  one 
hundred  and  ten  acres,  which  he  cleared,  being  the  first  settler  on  it, 
and  there  he  built  a log  house.  He  was  the  founder  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  helped  erect  the  first  church  building,  becoming  class 
leader  and  local  pastor.  He  was  very  active  in  church  work  all  his 
life,  and  was  a highly  respected,  useful  member  of  society.  He  was  a 
Whig  and  later  became  a Republican.  His  widow  survived  him  many 
years,  and  passed  away  in  1893,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years. 

Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Stevenson,  who  owns  extensive  farming  interests 
in  Taylor  Creek  township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  was  born  near  Urbana, 
Champaign  county,  Ohio,  May  25,  1822,  daughter  of  Dan  and  Nancy 
(Hill)  Ilidlinger.  Dan  Hullinger  was  born  in  Virginia,  and  his 
father’s  name  was  also  Dan.  The  elder  man  was  also  a native  of 
Virginia  and  served  in  the  Revolution.  Mrs.  Stevenson’s  father  served 
in  the  war  of  1812  and  came  with  his  father  to  Champaign  county;  the 
latter  died  in  1844.  The  son  died  in  1858,  at  the  age  of  sixty-two 
years.  His  wife  died  in  1825. 

In  1835,  when  thirteen  years  of  age,  Mrs.  Stevenson  came  to  Taylor 
Creek  township,  Hardin  county,  with  a sister,  and  worked  in  various 
families  until  her  marriage.  For  some  time  she  earned  her  living  by 
spinning  wool.  November  26,  1840,  Mary  Ann  Hullinger  married 
Homer  Stevenson,  who  was  born  in  Green  county,  Ohio,  May  31,  1816, 
and  died  in  September,  1904.  He  was  a son  of  William  and  Mary  Ann 
(Hillis)  Stevenson  and  came  to  Taylor  Creek  township  in  1830.  Mrs. 
Stevenson  is  one  of  the  oldest  living  pioneers  of  Hardin  county  and  the 
last  of  the  older  generation  of  the  Stevenson  family  to  survive.  She 
has  witnessed  many  changes  in  the  community  and  the  manner  in  which 
the  people  of  the  county  live.  When  she  came  to  the  county  many  fine 
farms  of  the  present  day  were  mostly  covered  with  a heavy  growth  of 
timber,  and  neighbors  were  far  apart.  She  is  known  and  loved  by  a 
large  circle  of  friends  and  is  known  to  old  and  young  alike  as  “Aunt 
Mary  Ann.” 


806 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


William  Stevenson  located  in  Xenia,  Ohio,  in  1800,  being  one  of  the 
very  earliest  inhabitants  of  the  region,  and  he  later  settled  on  the  Little 
Miami,  being  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  that  region.  He  served  as 
county  assessor  and  also  as  justice  of  the  peace.  He  served  in  the  war 
of  1812  and  died  in  1826.  His  widow  died  in  1841.  Homer  Stevenson 
helped  build  the  first  sehoolhouse  in  his  district,  now  known  as  the 
Stevenson  sehoolhouse.  In  1844  he  and  his  wife  built  the  first  cabin 
in  the  neighborhood  where  she  now  lives,  and  in  1862  they  erected  the 
house  which  is  still  the  family  home.  They  first  owned  eighty  acres 
but  soon  added  another  sixty  acres.  They  made  their  own  furniture 
for  keeping  house  and  endured  all  the  privations  incident  to  pioneer 
life.  In  early  days  they  took  eggs  to  Kenton  on  horseback  and  received 
three  cents  per  dozen  for  them.  Mr.  Stevenson  was  an  industrious, 
enterprising  farmer  and  met  with  gratifying  success.  He  was  a 
public-spirited,  useful  citizen  and  actively  interested  in  public  affairs. 
He  was  a strong  Republican  and  voted  for  Harrison  for  president  in 
1840.  He  was  highly  esteemed  and  served  thirty  years  as  township 
assessor,  also  served  as  justice  of  the  peace.  The  first  school  in  the 
neighborhood  was  built  near  what  is  now  the  Moy  farm  and  was  taught 
by  a brother  of  Mr.  Stevenson.  Another  brother,  Charles,  was  the 
first  auditor  of  Hardin  county.  Mr.  Stevenson  won  success  entirely 
through  his  own  efforts,  as  he  started  with  almost  nothing  and  at  his 
death  was  possessed  of  a large  property.  When  a young  man  and 
calling  on  his  sweetheart,  he  came  by  horseback,  and  together  he  and 
she  would  travel  on  the  same  horse  many  miles  to  attend  a party  or 
dance. 

Mr.  Stevenson  and  his  wife  had  children  as  follows : Rachel,  wife 
of  Leander  King,  has  four  children ; Bartley  E.,  who  was  killed  in  the 
battle  of  Winchester ; Miller,  who  lives  near  Bellefontaine,  a veteran  of 
the  Civil  war,  married  Lizzie  Raney  and  they  have  three  children  and 
one  grandchild ; Elizabeth,  wife  of  Albert  Ranney,  a farmer  living  near 
Kenton,  has  one  child,  Mary  Ethel;  Perry,  living  near  the  old  homestead, 
married  Amy  Burbey  and  they  have  one  child,  Scott ; David,  of  Rushsyl- 
vania,  Ohio,  married  Sarah  Bailey  and  they  have  five  children ; and 
Margaret,  married  Otis  Hopkins,  of  Taylor  Creek  township.  Mr. 
Stevenson  was  a member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church  of  Silver 
Creek,  Ohio.  Mrs.  Stevenson  still  resides  on  the  old  homestead,  and 
is  remarkable  for  her  perfect  health  and  activity.  She  does  a large 
amount  of  work  for  one  of  her  age,  caring  for  her  personal  needs  and 
doing  small  chores  around  the  farm,  such  as  helping  with  the  milking, 
etc.  She  is  a woman  of  high  intelligence  and  remarkable  for  her  good 
memory  and  ability  to  recount  notable  events  in  the  history  of  the 
county  where  so  large  a part  of  her  life  has  been  spent. 

Joseph  A.  Rubeck,  an  enterprising  and  practical  farmer  of  Dudley 
township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  was  born  on  the  farm  where  he  now 
resides,  February  24,  1877,  son  of  Peter  and  Barbara  (Winslick)  Rubeck, 
both  natives  of  Germany.  Peter  Rubeck  came  with  his  father,  George 
Rubeck’  to  the  United  States,  when  five  years  of  age.  They  located  in 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


807 


Huron  county,  and  in  1874  he  came  to  what  is  now  the  home  of  his  son 
Joseph.  He  built  the  present  house  and  carried  on  farming  until  1901 
and  then  retired  and  moved  to  Kenton.  The  home  place  was  formerly 
owned  by  a company  that  conducted  a saw  mill  along  the  Scioto  river. 
Peter  Rubeck  married  Barbara  Winsliek.  who  died  in  1909,  at  the  age 
of  sixty-nine  years.  She  came  to  America  with  her  parents  when  she 
was  sixteen  years  of  age.  She  and  her  husband  had  children  as  follows : 
Joseph  A.;  Mary,  wife  of  J.  Steiner,  a farmer;  Anna,  widow  of  George 
Schorff;  Lizzie,  wife  of  H.  Rohr,  of  Kenton;  Rosa,  wife  of  J.  Rueber; 
Maggie,  wife  of  John  Schorff;  Tina,  at  home;  John,  a blacksmith  in 
Marion,  Ohio;  and  George,  also  a blacksmith  of  Marion. 

Joseph  A.  Rubeck  lived  with  his  parents  until  his  majority  and 
attended  school  until  seventeen  years  of  age.  He  farmed  four  years 
for  himself  and  then  began  conducting  his  present  farm  with  his  brother 
and  sister.  He  farmed  in  partnership  with  them  until  his  marriage, 
when  he  purchased  their  interest  and  has  since  conducted  the  farm  on 
his  own  account.  He  has  one  hundred  and  fifty-two  acres  of  fine  land, 
and  besides  general  farming  pays  special  attention  to  poultry  and  stock. 
He  is  a member  of  the  Catholic  church  in  Larue,  and  although  interested 
in  public  affairs  takes  no  active  part  in  politics.  He  is  a progressive, 
up-to-date  farmer,  and  produces  the  maximum  of  profit  from  his  farm. 
He  is  well  known  in  the  community  and  has  a large  circle  of  friends. 

Mr.  Rubeck  married  Helen  Offenburger,  a native  of  Washington 
county,  born  March  4.  1886,  daughter  of  Laundler  Offenburger,  who  is 
now  fifty-five  years  of  age.  He  is  a plumber  by  trade  and  he  and  his 
wife,  Mary  (Giant)  Offenburger  (aged  fifty-one  years)  live  in  Marietta, 
Ohio.  Both  are  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  Besides  Mrs.  Rubeck  Mr. 
Offenburger  and  his  wife  have  children  as  follows:  Anna,  wife  of  H. 

Albrecht,  of  Mansfield ; Rosa,  wife  of  A1  Kuhns,  of  Pittsburg ; George, 
of  Columbus ; and  Ollie,  Paul  and  Florence,  all  at  home.  Mr.  Offen-  , 
burger  and  his  wife  belong  to  the  Catholic  church  and  are  members  of 
the  Altar  society  of  the  church.  Mr.  Rubeck  and  his  wife  are  parents 
of  two  children,  namely:  Maris  Christina,  born  July  14,  1904,  and 

Denanclis,  born  February  15,  1908. 

Albert  Willis  Cook,  a successful  and  substantial  farmer  of  Dudley 
township,  Hardin  county,  is  a native  of  the  township,  and  was  born  on 
the  old  Cook  homestead.  June  26,  1858.  He  is  a son  of  Nelson  Wesley 
and  Susanna  ((Dilldine)  Cook,  the  former  a native  of  Knox  county, 
Ohio,  and  a son  of  Silvanus  Cook. 

Silvanus  Cook  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania.  April 
14,  1807,  and  came  to  Ohio  at  the  age  of  seven  years,  locating  with  his 
parents  in  Richland  county.  He  was  married,  April  23.  1830,  to  Anna 
Spracklin,  who  was  born  June  14,  1805,  a native  of  England,  who  came 
with  her  parents  to  the  United  States,  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years. 
Silvanus  Cook  was  a stanch  Republican  and  active  in  public  matters ; 
he  served  in  several  townships  and  was  active  in  the  interests  of  his 
party.  He  removed  to  Hardin  county  in  1843. 

After  attending  the  public  schools  Nelson  Wesley  Cook  helped  with 


808 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


the  work  of  his  father’s  farm  and  took  up  the  trade  of  carpenter,  which 
he  followed  until  his  marriage.  He  rented  the  old  Ward  farm  for  one 
year  after  his  marriage,  then  purchased  the  homestead  which  became  the 
family  home,  in  1859.  In  1879  he  erected  a brick  house,  the  first  in 
the  vicinity ; he  made  his  own  brick,  after  building  the  kiln  himself, 
and  procured  the  mortar  from  his  farm.  He  carried  on  farming  until 
his  death,  February  3,  1880,  at  the  age  of  fifty  years.  His  widow  now 
resides  in  Marion,  Ohio,  and  has  reached  the  age  of  seventy-three  years. 
Mr.  Cook  was  a Republican,  though  he  took  no  active  part  in  politics, 
and  he  was  a member  of  the  United  Brethren  church.  He  and  his  wife 
were  parents  of  ten  children,  of  whom  nine  still  survive.  Albert  W.  is 
the  oldest  son  and  the  other  children  are : Mary  Ann,  widow  of  William 
Davis;  Viola,  wife  of  William  Key;  John  Elmer,  a farmer  of  Iowa; 
Katy,  wife  of  Charles  Wosts;  Lydia,  wife  of  William  Morris;  Harry,  a 
farmer  of  Marion  county ; Maude,  wife  of  Charles  Ansley  ■ and  Claude, 
a salesman,  of  Marion. 

Albert  W.  Cook  attended  public  school  until  he  was  fifteen  years  of 
age  and  then  assisted  with  the  work  of  the  farm,  remaining  at  home  until 
he  was  of  age.  After  the  death  of  his  father  he  was  the  mainstay  of  the 
family,  as  he  was  the  oldest  son  and  the  youngest  child  was  only  a year 
and  a half  old.  He  remained  with  his  mother  until  his  marriage,  then 
rented  a farm  in  Marion  county  one  year,  and  later  purchased  the  home 
where  he  now  lives,  the  old  Dilldine  home.  The  Dilldine  family  owned 
one  of  the  first  log  houses  in  the  vicinity,  and  when  Mr.  Cook  purchased 
the  farm  it  contained  fifty  acres,  of  which  only  five  acres  was  cleared. 
He  now  owns  ninety-three  acres,  and  his  farm  is  one  of  the  best  im- 
proved in  the  northern  part  of  the  township. 

March  22,  1887,  Mr.  Cook  married  Emma  Cosner,  who  was  born 
in  Marion  county,  Ohio,  April  11,  1866,  daughter  of  William  Cosner, 
who  died  in  1903,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years.  Mr.  Cosner  re- 
moved to  Ohio  from  Virginia  with  his  parents,  when  eighteen  years  of 
age,  and  they  settled  in  Marion  county,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  life  farming.  Mr.  Cosner  married  Abigail  Johnson,  who  died  in 
1904,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years.  She  was  born  in  Marion  comity, 
a daughter  of  Adam  and  Susan  (Seyler)  Johnson,  pioneers  of  Marion 
county.  William  Cosner  was  a son  of  Adam  Cosner,  who  located  in 
Marion  county  among  the  early  pioneers  and  there  carried  on  farming 
all  his  life.  William  Cosner  reared  his  children  in  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal faith.  Besides  Mrs.  Cook  he  and  his  wife  had  children  as  follows : 
Jenny,  wife  of  J.  N.  Court,  of  Marion,  Ohio;  Mary,  wife  of  St.  Powell, 
deceased;  Prank,  of  Michigan,  a pastor  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church;  Lizzie,  deceased  wife  of  William  Hinkler;  John,  a farmer  of 
Dudley  township ; and  Lydia  and  Joseph,  twins,  the  latter  deceased  and 
the  former  wife  of  W.  II.  Cummins.  Mrs.  Cook  is  a member  of  the 
United  Brethren  church  and  an  active  worker  for  the  Ladies’  Aid 
Society.  She  and  her  husband  became  parents  of  children  as  follows: 
Gail,  born  February  10,  1888,  at  home ; Alton  G.,  born  in  November, 
1891,  a clerk  of  Marion,  Ohio;  Hortense  May,  born  May  8,  1893,  at  home; 
one  child  who  died  in  infancy;  Nelson  Allen,  born  October  12,  1897,  at 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


809 


school;  Lena  and  Lorin  (twins),  born  October  4,  1899;  and  Harold, 
born  in  1902. 

Mr.  Cook  is  also  a member  of  the  United  Brethren  church  and  a 
parsonage  trustee.  He  is  a Republican  in  political  principles,  and  held 
several  township  offices,  such  as  supervisor  (two  terms)  and  member  of 
the  school  board  (two  terms),  and  is  a member  of  the  Sons  of  Veterans. 
He  has  acquired  his  present  success  in  life  by  his  own  unaided  efforts. 
He  and  his  wife  began  housekeeping  with  almost  nothing.  They  had  a 
little  furniture  and  a few  cooking  utensils,  and  Mr.  Cook  owned  a horse 
and  colt,  he  had  received  from  his  parents  as  wages  for  a year’s  work. 
He  carried  on  general  farming  with  good  results  and  pays  special  atten- 
tion to  stock  raising,  breeding  and  raising  a number  of  horses.  Among 
his  horses  may  be  named  “Young  Sieg, ” a pacer,  that  has  figured  many 
times  in  county  races.  This  horse  is  sired  by  Sigma  Nu,  No.  8009,  and 
the  dam,  Molly  Boston,  Mr.  Cook  raised  himself.  Mr.  Cook  also  owns 
a dapple  gray  team  of  registered  horses,  a full  blood  stallion  and  good 
driving  horses.  He  has  a large  herd  of  sheep,  sixteen  head  of  cattle  and 
two  registered  full  blood  brood  hogs,  both  of  Poland  China  breed,  from 
“Dew  Rock,’ ’ 

Charles  R.  Crum,  postmaster  of  Forest,  and  one  of  its  representa- 
tive and  substantial  citizens,  was  appointed  to  his  present  office  in 
February,  1907.  He  has  fulfilled  his  duties  in  a business-like  and  able 
manner,  that  commends  itself  to  all  the  patrons  of  the  postoffice.  Five 
rural  routes  radiate  from  Forest,  through  which  some  six  hundred 
families  daily  receive  mail. 

Mr.  Crum  is  a native  of  Forest,  born  in  1877,  and  was  reared  and 
educated  in  this  town,  where  later  he  became  engaged  in  mercantile 
business.  He  is  a son  of  A.  H.  and  Eleanor  (Cook)  Crum,  the  former 
from  Richland  county,  Ohio.  The  Cook  family  was  from  Connecticut, 
and  moved  to  Ohio  in  1832.  A.  H.  Crum  was  born  in  Huntington, 
Indiana,  in  1846,  and  came  to  Ohio  with  his  parents  in  1849 ; and  in  1858 
he  came  to  Kenton,  Ohio.  He  was  reared  and  educated  in  the  home  of 
his  aunt,  Mrs.  Catherine  Crum.  While  in  Kenton,  in  company  with 
his  brother-in-law,  D.  V.  Branch,  he  kept  the  Pease  House.  In  1861 
he  and  Mr.  Branch  removed  to  Forest,  and  for  some  time  kept  a hotel 
in  partnership.  In  1862  A.  H.  Crum  enlisted  as  private  in  Company 
C,  Eighty-second  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry;  he  was  in  the  Third  Division 
and  became  orderly  for  General  Robinson,  of  Kenton.  His  division 
became  attached  to  General  Sherman’s  command  and  took  part  in  the 
historic  march  to  the  sea.  At  the  battle  of  Atlanta  Mr.  Crum  was 
color-bearer,  and  after  color-guards  Mahon,  Knaus,  Stanacher,  Baker 
and  Williams  were  shot  down,  he  was  still  hanging  to  the  colors  of  his 
regiment.  He  was  wounded  slightly  in  the  right  knee  at  Resaca, 
Georgia.  In  1865  he  received  his  honorable  discharge.  At  the  close 
of  the  war  Mr.  Crum  realized  the  need  for  more  knowledge,  and  for  a 
time  attended  school.  Subsequently  he  removed  to  Findlay,  Hancock 
county,  Ohio,  and  took  a clerical  position,  soon  after  which  he  was 
married.  To  them  were  born : L.  D.,  Mrs.  Gertrude  Spear,  Mrs.  Maud 


810 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Ford,  Charles  R.  and  Dr.  John  R.,  of  Dunkirk.  Mr.  Crum  spent 
twenty-seven  years  in  farming  and  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  in  its 
wild  state,  which  he  cleared  and  cultivated.  In  1896  he  removed  to 
Forest,  where  he  lives  retired,  surrounded  by  modern  comforts  and  con- 
veniences. His  son  L.  D.  married  Carrie  A.,  daughter  of  Mrs.  M.  J. 
Foster,  in  1896 ; Mrs.  Crum  was  born  in  Marion,  Ohio,  July  10,  1874. 
They  have  three  sons,  A.  Harry,  born  in  1898 ; Foster,  in  1901 ; and 
Louis  J.  in  1908. 

Charles  R.  Crum  and  his  brother  L.  D.  have  for  some  time  been 
proprietors  of  a confectionery  and  bakery  business  besides  conducting  a 
first-class  lunch  room  in  Forest.  They  are  industrious  and  energetic, 
and  have  met  with  good  success.  During  the  Spanish-American  war 
Charles  R.  Crum  served  as  a member  of  Company  I,  Twentieth  Ohio 
Volunteers.  He  belongs  to  Senate  Lodge  No.  378,  Ancient  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons.  Mr.  Crum  is  unmarried  and  lives  with  his  parents. 
He  has  the  full  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens,  and  takes  an  active 
interest  in  public  affairs. 

Charles  Darrell  Kelley  is  prominently  associated  with  Hardin 
county  as  a journalist,  and  he  represents  a family  which  has  been  identi- 
fied with  Ohio  since  before  its  admission  into  the  union  of  states  and 
which  has  been  represented  in  every  prominent  war  of  the  nation.  It 
was  the  paternal  great-great-grandfather  who  became  a resident  of  Ohio 
before  its  admission  as  a,  state  to  the  Union,  when  the  territory,  sparsely 
settled  by  sturdy  pioneers,  was  holding  its  own  against  British  invasion 
and  Indian  wars.  His  son  Joseph,  of  Irish  lineage  and  a native  of 
Ohio,  was  a trader,  farmer  and  rural  barrister,  as  was  his  father  before 
him.  He  married  Sarah  Shaw,  a native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  among 
their  children  was  Mathew  Kelley,  who  was  born  in  Pickaway  county, 
Ohio,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  a store  keeper  at  Groveport,  Ohio. 
He  married  Louisa  Weaver,  and  among  their  children  numbered  Isaac 
Kelley,  who  became  the  father  of  the  Kenton  editor.  Isaac  N.  Kelley  was 
born  in  Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  subsequently  moved  to  Franklin  county, 
this  state,  and  after  attending  school  there  and  at  Ada  he  engaged  in 
farming  in  Hardin  county.  His  wife  was  before  marriage  Jennie  Rarey, 
a great-granddaughter  of  Charles  Rarey,  a farmer,  who  came  to  this  coun- 
try from  Germany  before  the  opening  of  the  eighteenth  century  and  was 
one  of  the  first  frontiersmen  in  the  vicinity  of  Columbus,  Ohio.  Her 
father  settled  in  Hardin  county  in  1854. 

Charles  D.  Kelley  Avas  born  on  his  parents’  farm  three  miles  Avest 
of  Kenton  on  the  8th  of  July,  1882.  During  three  years  of  his  early 
life  he  attended  school  in  district  No.  10  of  the  Scioto  Valley.  On  the 
1st  of  April,  1891,  he  accompanied  the  family  on  their  removal  to  a farm 
adjoining  South  Kenton,  and  a year  or  two  later  they  took  up  a perma- 
nent residence  in  Kenton,  where  the  head  of  the  household  became  the 
deputy  postmaster.  All  of  the  members  of  this  family  are  living 
excepting  the  father,  whose  death  occurred  Avhen  Charles  Avas  a lad  of 
fourteen,  and  it  was  by  dint  of  hard  work,  economy  and  perseverance 
that  the  large  family  afterward  held  together.  Young  Charles  con- 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


811 


tinued  his  attendance  at  school,  working  on  farm,  in  factory  and  store 
between  terms,  and  was  graduated  from  the  Kenton  high  school  with 
distinction  on  June  6,  1901.  He  afterward  continued  his  education 
along  special  lines,  but  his  specialty  seemed  the  literary  field,  black  and 
white  drawing  and  mathematics.  He  was  chosen  by  the  Kenton  schools 
to  represent  his  city  in  an  interurban  oratorical  contest  at  Upper  San- 
dusky on  May  10,  1901.  and  in  his  oration  entitled  “The  Swing  of  the 
Pendulum”  he  demonstrated  forensic  superiority  and  won  the  chief 
prize  that  was  awarded  to  the  male  division  in  the  contest,  which  em- 
braced all  the  important  cities  of  northwestern  Ohio. 

In  1901,  in  Kenton,  Mr.  Kelley  engaged  in  the  newspaper  business 
as  a regular  vocation,  he  having  previously  at  various  times  held  small 
positions,  such  as  carrying  papers,  learning  to  set  type,  etc.  Upon 
leaving  school  he  accepted  a regular  position  as  reporter  on  the  Daily 
Democrat  and  two  years  later  became  the  city  editor,  but  on  the  1st  of 
July,  1905,  resigned  the  position  to  engage  in  newspaper  work  elsewhere. 
He  assisted  in  the  starting  of  a new  paper  at  Sidney,  and  a few  weeks 
later  became  associate  editor  of  the  News-Republican  at  Kenton.  He 
held  that  position  until  October  31.  1907,  when  he  acquired  twenty-five 
per  cent  of  the  stock  of  The  Kenton  Republican  Company,  became  a 
director  and  the  secretary  of  the  company,  and  the  editor-in-chief  of  the 
company’s  publications, — The  News-Republican,  The  Hardin  County 
Republican  and  The  Graphic-News.  From  the  time  of  his  first  vote  Mr. 
Kelley  has  been  a Roosevelt  Republican ; is  a strong  champion  of  princi- 
ples he  believes  to  be  right, — at  the  same  time  granting  that  other  men 
have  a right  to  views  of  their  own.  He  is  not  affiliated  with  secret 
societies,  but  has  given  much  time  to  the  reorganization  and  betterment 
of  The  Kenton  Guards,  Company  I,  Second  Regiment  of  Infantry,  O.  N. 
G.  He  enlisted  in  the  company  on  June  10,  1902,  first  as  a private, 
being  later  appointed  company  clerk,  and  then  corporal ; was  elected 
first  lieutenant  and  commissioned  August  1,  1906 ; and  was  next  elected 
captain  of  the  Second  Infantry  and  placed  in  command  of  Company  I. 
At  the  time  of  this  commission,  made  by  Governor  Harris  on  March  4, 
1907,  he  is  thought  to  have  been  the  youngest  commanding  officer  in  the 
state.  During  his  captaincy  the  command  has  won  an  excellent  reputa- 
tion through  its  personnel  and  marksmanship. 

Mr.  Kelley  married  on  June  29.  1907,  Miss  Bess  G.  Stevenson,  an 
accomplished  young  woman  of  Kenton,  great-granddaughter  of  Harvey 
Buckminster,  who  conducted  the  pioneer  stage  coach  line  in  this  part 
of  Ohio,  running  from  Detroit  to  Cincinnati,  and  in  whose  honor  Buck 
township  was  named.  A daughter,  Lillian  Jane,  was  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Kelley  on  the  22d  of  November,  1909.  As  an  editor  Charles  D. 
Kelley  has  proved  himself  an  intelligent  shaper  of  matter  for  public 
print,  and  as  a citizen  he  is  identified  with  the  earnest  life  of  his  com- 
munity, public  spirited  and  patriotic  and  a diligent  worker  at  anything 
he  attempts.  His  kindly  and  always  sympathetic  nature  account  for  no 
personal  enemies,  and  his  sturdy  character  and  strong  personality  mark 
him  as  one  of  the  truest  and  best  citizens  of  his  community. 


812 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


James  B.  Fuel,  a well  known  and  highly  respected  citizen  of  Jack- 
son  township,  Hardin  county,  was  born  in  Clinton  county,  Indiana,  in 
December,  1843.  He  is  a son  of  Henry  and  Susan  Fuel,  the  former  a 
native  of  Ohio  and  the  latter  of  Tennessee.  Mr.  Fuel  and  his  wife  were 
parents  of  seven  children,  namely : Lucy,  Martha,  Alice,  Samantha, 

Leatha,  Miranda  and  James  B. 

The  early  days  of  James  B.  Fuel  were  spent  in  his  native  county, 
and  here  he  attended  the  district  school ; he  learned  the  saddle-tree  trade, 
but  could  not  stand  the  indoor  confinement,  so  abandoned  it.  He  began 
learning  the  trade  of  machinist,  but  soon  gave  that  up  for  farming,  in 
which  line  he  has  been  very  successful.  Mr.  Fuel  heard  the  call  of  his 
country  at  the  time  of  the  Rebellion,  and  enlisted  in  Company  B,  Tenth 
Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  for  three  months,  being  enrolled  as  musi- 
cian ; at  the  expiration  of  this  term  of  service  Mr.  Fuel  reenlisted  in 
Company  B,  Sixty-third  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  for  three  years. 
At  the  end  of  this  time  he  was  honorably  discharged  and  reenlisted  in 
the  same  company,  serving  until  the  end  of  the  war.  He  served  with 
bravery  and  distinction,  and  took  part  in  many  engagements,  among 
them : Rich  Mountain,  Bowling  Green,  Petersburg,  Savannah,  Gettys- 

burg and  Nashville.  He  was  wounded  three  times,  first  at  Petersburg 
and  again  at  Jonesboro  and  Atlanta.  He  was  taken  prisoner  at 
Atlanta  and  confined  four  months  in  Andersonville  prison ; he  was  one 
of  six  who  attempted  to  escape  from  prison,  five  of  whom  succeeded  and 
one  was  shot,  he  being  one  of  the  five  to  reach  the  Union  lines.  Upon 
being  mustered  out  at  the  close  of  the  war,  Mr.  Fuel  returned  to  farming, 
and  since  1879  has  owned  his  present  farm  of  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
five  acres,  which  he  devoted  to  general  farming.  He  has  carried  on  his 
farm  in  an  able,  efficient  manner,  and  has  managed  so  well  financially 
that  he  now  contemplates  retiring  from  active  life,  to  spend  his  remain- 
ing years  in  the  town  of  Forest. 

Mr.  Fuel  is  actively  interested  in  local  affairs,  and  has  been  honored 
by  the  offices  of  township  trustee  and  school  director.  He  is  well  known 
in  the  community,  where  his  good  qualities  and  high  character  are  ap- 
preciated. Mr.  Fuel  is  a prominent  member  of  the  local  post  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  He  and  his  wife  have  a daughter  who 
resides  with  them. 

Charley  Stout. — Earnest  in  purpose,  enterprising  and  industrious, 
Charley  Stout  is  actively  identified  with  the  advancement  of  the  indus- 
trial prosperity  of  Hardin  county,  being  busily  employed  as  a farmer, 
and  a lumber  manufacturer  and  dealer  in  Hepburn.  A son  of  the  late 
Safety  Stout,  he  was  born,  August  29,  1857,  in  Licking  county,  Ohio. 

His  paternal  grandfather,  Robert  Stout,  who  served  in  the  war  of 
1812,  came  to  Ohio  in  pioneer  times,  locating  in  Marion  county.  Taking 
up  a tract  of  land  that  was  still  in  its  virgin  wildness,  he  cleared  and 
improved  a homestead,  on  which  he  was  engaged  in  tilling  the  soil  the 
remainder  of  his  active  career.  He  died  in  1870,  at  the  venerable  age 
of  eighty-six  years.  He  married  Jane  Newman,  who  became  blind 
during  her  later  years,  otherwise  retaining  her  faculties  until  her  death. 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


813 


Safety  Stout  was  born,  in  1818,  in  New  Jersey,  and  came  as  a child 
with  the  family  to  Marion  county,  Ohio,  where  he  grew  to  man’s  estate, 
acquiring  a meager  education  in  the  pioneer  schools  of  his  day.  He 
subsequently  drove  stage  for  a number  of  years,  but  after  his  marriage 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  lumber,  at  first  having  a saw  mill  in 
Licking  county,  but  later  removing  to  Marion  county,  his  mill  being  a 
portable  one.  In  1886  he  established  his  mill  in  Dudley  township,  and 
continued  its  operations  until  his  retirement  from  active  business,  con- 
tinuing his  residence  here  until  his  death,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two 
years  and  ten  months.  He  married  Cynthia  Freeman,  who  was  born 
in  1819,  and  died  in  1891.  Her  father,  H.  Freeman,  served  in  the  war 
of  1812,  and  was  subsequently  an  early  settler  of  Licking  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  cleared  a homestead  from  the  wilderness,  and  did  his  part  in 
advancing  the  interests  of  town  and  county.  Four  children  w^ere  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Safety  Stout,  as  follows : Oliver,  engaged  in  farming 

in  Dudley  township ; Alice,  wife  of  Milt  Armstrong,  of  Findlay,  Ohio ; 
Diantha,  wife  of  Louis  Farmer,  who  is  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
in  Nashville,  Tennessee;  and  Charley,  the  special  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Receiving  but  limited  educational  advantages,  Charley  Stout  began 
at  the  age  of  thirteen  years  to  be  in  a measure  self  supporting.  Assist- 
ing his  father  in  the  saw  mill,  he  began  running  an  engine  when  a mere 
boy,  and  subsequently  remained  with  his  parents  as  long  as  they  lived, 
caring  tenderly  for  them  in  their  closing  years.  Succeeding  to  the 
business  at  the  death  of  his  father,  Mr.  Stout  was  extensively  engaged 
as  a lumber  manufacturer  and  dealer  for  many  years,  and  in  connection 
with  this  industry  has  carried  on  general  farming  since  1893.  A man 
of  excellent  character  and  good  business  qualifications,  Mr.  Stout  has 
won  well  merited  success  in  his  varied  undertakings,  and  the  respect  in 
which  he  is  held  throughout  the  community  gives  evidence  of  his  up- 
right and  manly  life. 

Mr.  Stout  married  Dora  Moore,  who  was  born  in  Iowa,  in  1858,  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Louisa  Moore.  Her  father,  a life-long  farmer, 
served  as  a soldier  in  the  Civil  war  for  a period  of  three  years,  taking 
part  in  many  engagements  of  importance,  in  one  of  which  he  was  severely 
wounded  in  the  shoulder,  the  wound,  and  subsequent  exposure  and  hard- 
ships, causing  his  death.  Five  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Stout,  namely : Arthur,  employed  as  a clerk  in  Hepburn,  married  Rosa 
Ward,  and  they  have  one  child,  Harry  Stout;  Clifton,  deceased;  Norma, 
living  at  home;  Callie,  died  in  infancy;  and  Mabel,  who  died  when  an 
infant.  Politically  Mr.  Stout  supports  the  principles  of  the  Democratic 
party  at  the  polls,  but  has  never  been  an  office  seeker.  Religiously  both 
he  and  his  estimable  wife  are  valued  members  of  the  United  Brethren 
church. 

Leroy  S.  Dickerson. — Among  the  enterprising  young  men  of  Mt. 
Victory,  Ohio,  is  Leroy  S.  Dickerson,  station  agent  for  the  Big  Four 
Railway  and  Western  LTnion  telegraph  operator,  born  in  Shelby,  Ohio, 
February  8,  1888,  son  of  Charles  E.  and  Ida  (Pettit)  Dickerson,  the 
mother  dying  when  her  son  was  three  weeks  old.  The  child  was  reared 

Vol.  11—24 


814 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


by  his  foster-parents,  Andrian  and  Addie  (Rex)  Dickerson.  Audrian 
Dickerson,  Sr.,  died  September  9,  1908,  at  the  age  of  forty-five  years;  he 
was  born  in  Ohio,  and  followed  farming  until  eighteen  years  of  age 
when  he  took  the  position  of  engineer  for  threshing  machine,  which  he 
followed  all  his  life.  He  was  highly  respected  and  well  liked  by  all  who 
knew  him,  and  was  an  earnest  member  of  the  Lutheran  church.  For 
twenty  years  he  Avas  a member  of  the  Royal  Arc  Lodge.  His  wife  was 
born  in  Richland  county,  Ohio,  and  is  now  forty-four  years  of  age.  The 
father  of  Charles  E.  Dickerson,  Thomas  Dickerson,  lives  at  Shiloh,  Ohio, 
and  has  reached  the  age  of  eighty-eight  years ; his  wife,  who  was  Susan 
Miller,  is  deceased. 

Leroy  S.  Dickerson  has  one  brother  and  one  sister  living,  who  were 
reared  by  their  grandparents, — Roscoe  Pettit,  of  Toledo,  Ohio,  a mail 
clerk ; and  Bertha,  living  in  Shiloh  with  her  grandmother  Pettit.  Mr. 
Dickerson  attended  school  until  eighteen  years  of  age,  graduating  in 
1 905,  and  then  became  employed  at  Shelby,  Ohio,  as  agent  and  telegraph 
operator,  remaining  there  until  1906,  when  he  engaged  with  the  Western 
Union  Telegraph  Company,  at  United  States  Stock  Yards,  at  Cleveland. 
Returning  to  Shiloh,  he  engaged  as  operator  for  the  Big  Pour  Railroad 
at  Columbia,  Ohio,  and  later  transferred  to  Mt.  Victory,  where  he  has 
since  been  employed  as  freight  and  ticket  agent,  and  also  Western  Union 
telegraph  operator. 

Politically  Mr.  Dickerson  is  a strong  Republican,  and  he  is  actively 
interested  in  public  affairs.  He  is  a member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  of 
Shiloh,  and  is  a young  man  of  good  principles  and  high  character,  honest 
and  upright  in  all  his  dealings.  He  is  highly  esteemed  by  his  employers 
and  has  a large  circle  of  friends.  In  1908  Mr.  Dickerson  married  Rose 
A.  White,  who  was  born  January  13,  1887,  in  Richland  county,  a daugh- 
ter of  Newton  H.  and  Alice  (Rose)  White,  retired  farmers.  To  this 
union  one  child  has  been  born,  Alice,  born  December  9,  1908.  The 
foster-parents  of  Mr.  Dickerson  had  one  child  of  their  own,  Mary  S., 
who  married  R.  W.  Corkhill,  of  Cleveland, 

James  W.  Obenotjr  is  identified  with  both  the  agricultural  and 
commercial  life  of  his  community,  and  he  is  one  of  Hardin  county’s 
native  sons,  born  in  its  township  of  Washington  on  the  24t,h  of  March, 
1855.  His  parents,  Henry  and  Mary  Jane  (Sheppard)  Obenour,  are 
both  now  deceased,  the  father  dying  in  1860,  and  the  mother  in  1894,  she 
having  reached  the  age  of  seventy-two  years.  She  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Obenour  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  of 
Hardin  county,  and  he  was  a life-long  agriculturist.  Both  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  church.  In  their  family  were  the  following 
children:  Levi  Perry,  a Dudley  township  farmer;  Joshua,  who  is  farm- 
ing in  McGuffey  township ; and  Susanna,  the  wife  of  John  Taylor,  of 
Kenton. 

James  W.  Obenour,  also  a member  of  this  family,  after  the  school 
age  of  fifteen  worked  at  farm  labor  and  at  railroading.  He  has  worked 
in  the  fields  from  a very  early  age,  for  as  a boy  of  eight  he  followed  the 
plow,  and  so  small  was  he  at  that  time  that  he  had  to  stand  on  a box  to 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


815 


hitch  and  unhitch  a team  of  horses.  After  the  father’s  death  the 
mother  cared  for  her  children  as  best  she  could,  and  when  her  son 
James  was  seventeen  they  moved  to  the  town  of  North  Washington,  he 
continuing  to  live  with  his  mother  until  her  death.  During  three  years 
he  was  the  engineer  of  the  Kenton  Paper  Mills ; moving  then  to  Terre 
Haute,  Indiana,  he  was  the  engineer  of  a large  plant  there,  and  later 
was  similarly  engaged  at  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  and  Lima,  Ohio,  until  in 
1891  he  returned  to  Kenton  and  his  former  occupation  of  farming. 
During  the  six  years  following  his  return  he  lived  in  McDonald  township, 
and  then  purchasing  another  farm  near  Kenton  he  was  there  for  three 
years,  moving  then  to  Hepburn,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in 
conducting  a meat  market  and  in  farming. 

He  was  first  married  to  Elma  Jane  Smith,  a daughter  of  Hiram  and 
Elizabeth  Smith,  and  a son  and  a daughter  were  born  to  them, — Perry 
C.,  who  is  now  twenty-three  years  of  age  and  a mechanic  in  Detroit, 
Michigan,  and  Rena  Lodema,  twenty-five  years  of  age  and  the  wife  of 
Louis  Dodson,  a farmer  in  Dudley  township.  There  are  also  two 
grandchildren.  Edward  N.  and  Mary  Ellen.  Mrs.  Obenour  died  in  the 
year  of  1891,  when  thirty-two  years  of  age,  and  Mr.  Obenour  married  for 
his  second  wife  Ellen  (Williams)  Rimick,  a daughter  of  Cornelius 
Williams,  now  deceased.  Mrs.  Obenour  has  two  children  by  her  former 
marriage,  Ida,  the  wife  of  William  Smith,  of  Seattle.  Washington,  and 
Charles,  a farmer  near  Larue,  Ohio.  The  second  union  has  been  with- 
out issue. 

Marsena  Stewart  Spencer  is  one  of  Hepburn’s  business  men.  He 
was  born  in  Allen  county,  Ohio,  near  Spencerville,  on  the  16th  of  May, 
1869,  and  he  is  a son  of  one  of  Ohio’s  early  and  well  known  ministers, 
the  Rev.  David  Duman  Spencer.  The  last  named  was  born  in  Miami 
county,  Ohio,  and  he  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years,  in  1899. 
Amos  Spencer,  his  father,  located  in  Miami  county  during  an  early 
period  in  its  history,  and  he  was  a life-long  farmer.  The  Rev.  David  D. 
Spencer  after  leaving  the  school  room  followed  farming  until  1861, 
and  he  then  began  to  study  for  the  ministry.  In  1885  he  entered  the 
pulpit  as  a Missionary  Baptist  minister,  his  field  of  labor  being  Miami 
county.  At  the  opening  of  the  war  between  the  north  and  the  south  he 
enlisted  for  service  at  Troy,  Ohio,  and  at  the  close  of  his  first  term  re- 
enlisted,  but  was  discharged  and  pensioned  before  the  close  of  the  war 
on  account  of  sickness.  He  entered  the  ranks  as  a private,  but  was 
afterward  commissioned  as  a first  lieutenant,  and  at  the  close  of  his 
military  service  he  returned  to  Troy  and  to  his  ministerial  labors.  For 
a period  of  five  years  he  was  stationed  in  Allen  county,  was  later  two 
years  at  Janesville,  for  three  years  was  pastor  of  the  Ada  church,  dur- 
ing a similar  period  was  stationed  at  Liberty  Center,  Indiana,  was  then 
two  years  at  the  Eel  River  Baptist  church,  then  returning  to  Liberty 
Center  was  stationed  there  for  two  more  years,  and  then  coming  to 
Mercer  county.  Ohio,  he  served  as  the  pastor  of  three  appointments  and 
branches  there.  In  1886  Rev.  Spencer  returned  to  his  first  charge,  the 
old  Manda  and  Marion  church,  and  there  he  also  ended  his  ministerial 


816 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


work.  Through  his  efforts  the  old  Poraker  church  was  built,  and  his 
entire  career  as  a minister  was  characterized  with  efficient  service  and 
with  duties  well  performed.  He  married  Mary  K.  Sutton,  and  she  is 
now  living  in  Spencerville,  Ohio.  She  is  a daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Susan  (Kephart)  Sutton). 

Marsena  S.  Spencer  was  one  of  twin  sons,  and  his  brother,  Artemus 
Spencer,  is  now  a teacher  in  Spencerville,  Ohio.  After  leaving  school ' 
at  the  age  of  fourteen  Marsena  S.  Spencer  followed  farming  for  three 
years,  and  then  entering  the  employ  of  the  Erie  Railroad  Company  he 
was  their  agent  and  operator  at  Conant,  this  state,  for  two  years,  and 
for  twelve  years  was  stationed  at  Poraker,  leaving  there  for  Adrian, 
Michigan,  where  he  spent  one  year  as  clerk  and  cashier  of  their  freight 
office.  Returning  then  to  Poraker  he  was  for  a time  extra  traveling 
agent,  was  next  stationed  at  Kemp  one  year,  and  in  1904  he  came  to 
Hepburn  as  an  agent  and  operator.  In  July  of  1909  he  left  the  railroad 
service  to  engage  in  the  hay  business,  and  in  addition  he  owns  a restau- 
rant and  store  at  this  place.  He  is  a member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
fraternity  at  Kenton  and  of  the  Maccabees  at  Hepburn. 

On  the  28th  of  June,  1891,  Mr.  Spencer  was  married  to  Hattie  I. 
Wheeler,  who  was  born  in  Noble  county,  Ohio,  June  21,  1871,  a daughter 
of  Enos  and  Lottie  (Lamley)  Wheeler,  who  are  living  on  a farm  in 
Hardin  county,  the  father  sixty-nine  years  of  age  and  the  mother  sixty- 
six.  They  have  two  children  living,  and  the  son,  Amos  Wheeler,  resides 
near  them.  Mrs.  Spencer  is  a member  of  the  Baptist  church  at  Poraker, 
also  belonging  to  its  Ladies  Aid  Society,  and  she  is  a member  of  the 
Pythian  Sisters  at  Hepburn  and  its  mistress  of  finance.  The  following 
children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spencer : Ralph,  who  is  de- 

ceased ; Mildred,  born  August  22,  1895;  Gladys,  born  December  13, 
1898;  LeRoy,  born  February  21,  1901;  and  Harold,  born  July  7,  1903. 

Azel  Prank  Ballinger. — Among  the  prominent  and  prosperous 
farmers  of  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  is  Azel  Prank  Ballinger,  who  owns  a 
fine  farm  in  Dudley  township.  Mr.  Ballinger  was  born  August  5,  1879, 
on  the  old  Ballinger  homestead,  and  is  a son  of  Layman  and  Louisa 
(Nash)  Ballinger,  the  former  of  whom  died  in  1898,  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
five  years.  Layman  Ballinger  was  born  November  25,  1844,  in  Logan 
county,  Ohio,  being  a son  of  Henry  and  Rebecca  C.  (Moore)  Ballinger. 
The  Ballinger  family  originally  came  from  England  and  settled  in  New 
Jersey.  Joshua  Ballinger  came  to  Ohio  from  New  Jersey  in  the  early 
days,  and  located  in  Logan  county  near  Middleburg.  Henry  Ballinger 
was  born  about  one  mile  south  of  Middleburg,  being  the  elder  of  the  two 
children  born  to  Henry  and  Patience  (Bishop)  Ballinger.  Rebecca  C. 
Moore  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  and  when  five  years  old  came  to  Ohio  with 
her  parents.  After  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Ballinger,  November  23,  1837, 
they  settled  on  the  farm  in  Perry  township  about  two  miles  north  of 
East  Liberty,  where  they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives ; he  being 
eighty-six  at  the  time  of  his  death  and  she  seventy-three  years  of  age. 
They  were  both  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  from  early 
life  until  their  deaths. 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


817 


Layman  Ballinger,  the  father  of  Azel  F.,  followed  farming  all  his 
life.  He  had  lived  in  Champaign  county  until  the  age  of  fifteen  when 
he  went  to  Logan  county,  later  going  to  Hardin  county,  where  he  took 
up  farming  on  one  hundred  acres  in  Dudley  township.  In  October, 
1861,  he  enlisted  in  Company  C,  Seventeenth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry 
for  three  years.  He  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Chickamauga,  Lookout 
Mountain,  and  Pittsburg  Landing,  Atlanta  and  others.  During  the  last 
year  and  a half  he  served  as  orderly  sergeant  to  which  office  he  had  been 
promoted.  His  wife,  Louisa  Nash,  was  born  July  13,  1846,  in  Belle- 
fontaine,  her  father,  John  Nash,  was  a native  of  Pennsylvania,  of  Irish 
descent.  His  wife,  Elizabeth  Ann  Peterson,  was  born  in  Virginia,  of 
German  parentage,  her  father,  Jacob  Peterson,  being  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  Ohio.  Layman  Ballinger  and  wife  had  several  children,  of  whom 
one  daughter  is  living  besides  Azel.  She  is  Effie,  wife  of  Carl  Davis,  a 
farmer  of  Dudley  township. 

After  receiving  a good  education  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
county,  Azel  F.  Ballinger  helped  with  the  work  on  his  father’s  farm,  and 
thoroughly  learned  the  details  of  all  kinds  of  farm  work.  When  he  was 
nineteen  years  of  age  his  father  died,  and  the  young  man  tried  to  take 
the  latter’s  place  in  managing  the  farm,  remaining  with  his  mother  and 
sister  until  1906,  when  on  account  of  his  wife’s  health  he  took  a trip 
with  her  to  California,  and  carried  on  farming  one  year  in  that  state. 
He  returned  to  the  old  homestead,  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  which 
he  now  owns,  and  besides  general  farming  carried  on  extensive  stock 
raising.  The  farm  is  situated  in  the  midst  of  a fine  farming  country, 
and  is  one  of  the  handsomest  and  most  picturesque  in  the  county.  In 
1907  Mr.  Ballinger  bought  a half  interest  in  a hardware  business  in  Alt. 
Victory,  known  as  C.  E.  Cook  & Company,  but  eighteen  months  later 
sold  his  interest  and  returned  to  farming.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  of  Mt.  Victory,  and  belongs  to  the  Christian  church. 
He  taken  an  active  interest  in  public  affairs,  is  a stanch  Republican  and 
has  served  two  terms  on  the  school  board. 

In  1900  Mr.  Ballinger  married  Almary  Fisher,  who  was  born  June 
12,  1881,  on  the  old  historic  Wheeler  farm  which  was  owned  from  1875 
until  1880  by  her  grandparents,  John  and  Sarah  (Barrett)  Haley,  who 
now  reside  in  Goshen  township.  This  farm  is  located  on  the  Sandusky 
road.  Mrs.  Ballinger  is  a daughter  of  Alford  and  Mary  (Haley) 
Fisher,  the  former  of  whom,  an  old  pioneer  of  Dudley  township,  died  in 
1898,  and  the  latter  died  in  1903.  Alford  Fisher’s  father  was  an 
attorney  and  served  as  justice  of  the  peace.  Besides  Mrs.  Ballinger  Mr. 
Fisher  and  his  wife  had  children  as  follows:  John,  of  California;  Ray, 
a barber,  living  in  Missouri ; Alford,  a teacher  in  Goshen  township ; and 
Alpha,  wife  of  Roy  Rosebroob,  living  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ballinger.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Ballinger  have  one  child,  Zelma,  aged  six.  Mrs.  Ballinger 
is  a member  of  the  Christian  church  and  of  the  Pythian  Sisters.  Mr. 
Ballinger  has  the  largest  maple-sugar  grove  in  the  county,  the  industry 
of  sugar-making  being  but  little  carried  on  in  this  part  of  the  state.  The 
trees  are  the  finest  of  their  kind  and  yield  a fine  quality  of  sap. 


818 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Andrew  J.  Wallace,  a retired  farmer  living  in  Taylor  Creek 
township,  was  born  in  Fayette  county,  Ohio,  March  27,  1827,  son  of 
William  and  Polly  (Campbell)  Wallace,  both  natives  of  Kentucky. 
William  Wallace  removed  to  Ohio  and  settled  in  Bell  Center,  in  1832. 
He  bought  a farm  in  the  neighborhood  and  there  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  life  passing  away  in  1875,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years.  His 
widow  survived  him  a few  years  and  died  in  1881,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
two  years.  His  father,  Joseph  Wallace,  was  a native  of  Virginia,  and 
he  and  his  wife  both  died  in  Kentucky.  The  children  born  to  William 
and  Polly  Wallace  were:  Andrew  J.,  of  this  sketch,  and  Elizabeth,  wife 
of  William  Ramsey,  of  Bell  Center,  Ohio.  Mr.  Wallace  had  a brother 
who  served  in  the  war  of  1812. 

After  receiving  a good  education  in  the  public  schools,  Andrew  J. 
Wallace  helped  his  father  with  the  work  of  carrying  on  the  farm,  until 
twenty-eight  years  of  age,  when  he  married  and  located  on  his  present 
farm  in  Hardin  county.  He  took  up  one  hundred  and  twenty-three 
acres  of  land  that  was  partly  cleared,  and  has  remained  on  the  farm  ever 
since,  now  owning  three  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres  in  the  home- 
stead and  two  farms  adjoining,  altogether  four  hundred  and  fifty  acres. 
Since  1907  he  has  lived  a quiet,  retired  life  and  his  interests  are  cared 
for  by  his  son  William,  who  manages  the  farm.  Mr.  Wallace  is  a 
Republican  and  has  served  as  township  trustee,  during  the  time  his  home 
was  included  in  Linn  township.  He  is  a member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  of  Bell  Center.  Mr.  Wallace  is  a man  of  great  industry  and 
ambition,  a useful,  public-spirited  citizen,  and  a farmer  of  intelligence 
and  judgment. 

Mr.  Wallace  married  Caroline  Laughlin,  born  in  Guernsey  county, 
Ohio,  February  7,  1833,  daughter  of  Hugh  and  Maria  (Clark)  Laughlin, 
natives  of  Pennsylvania,  who  located  in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  in  1830. 
Her  paternal  grandfather  was  John  Laughlin,  and  her  maternal  grand- 
father, Thomas  Clark,  was  a Presbyterian  minister.  Mrs.  Wallace 
died  in  April,  1898,  mourned  by  a wide  circle  of  friends.  She  was  a 
woman  of  high  character  and  worthy  deeds  and  had  done  a great  deal 
for  the  cause  of  religion  and  other  objects.  She  was  a member  of  the 
Presbyterian  church.  To  Mr.  Wallace  and  his  wife  children  were  born 
as  follows : Cornelia,  married  C.  Porter  and  they  have  three  children, — 
Ivan,  Ellen  and  Mabel;  Edna,  married  E.  E.  Obenouer,  of  Bell  Center, 
and  they  have  four  children, — Florence,  James,  John  and  Sterling; 
Elizabeth,  married  Joseph  Emory,  and  they  have  two  children,— Wal- 
lace and  Gladys;  Tad,  married  Thomas  Mansfield,  of  Bell  Center,  and 
they  have  one  child,  Harry;  and  William,  married  Mary  Hannah, 
daughter  of  William  H.  and  Chloe  Ann  Wallace,  bearing  the  same  sur- 
name, but  not  a relative. 

William  Wallace  has  full  charge  of  his  father’s  farm  and  like  his 
father  is  making  a specialty  of  stock  raising,  which  he  carries  on  with 
great  success.  He  has  some  registered  sheep,  “Dew  Rock”  hogs  and 
standard  bred  horses.  He  has  about  six  hundred  sheep  at  present. 
He  is  one  of  the  most  extensive  stock  raisers  and  shippers  of  the  town- 
ship, and  displays  excellent  management  in  his  manner  of  conducting 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


819 


his  business.  He  is  enterprising  and  progressive  and  prominent  among 
the  modern  and  up-to-date  farmers  of  Hardin  county.  Mr.  Wallace 
is  a Republican,  and  although  very  popular  in  the  community  has  never 
held  office.  He  belongs  to  the  Presbyterian  church. 

William  J.  Mathews. — One  of  the  most  enterprising  and  success- 
ful citizens  of  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  is  William  J.  Mathews,  a native  of 
the  county,  who  was  born  in  Washington  township,  November  4,  1856, 
son  of  Elihu  and  Margaret  J.  (Rusk)  Mathews.  He  was  one  of  a 
family  of  four  children,  of  whom  two  survive  Emmor  S.,  of  Washington 
township  and  himself.  Elihu  Mathews  located  in  Cessna  township  in 
1834,  and  taught  school  eighteen  years.  He  later  purchased  a farm 
in  Washington  township,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He 
was  educated  in  Hardin  county  and  became  a prominent  farmer  and 
successful  man.  He  was  born  in  Crawford  county,  Ohio,  in  1826,  and 
died  in  September,  1909.  His  wife  passed  away  in  1904. 

AY.  J.  Mathews  was  reared  on  a farm  and  attended  the  district 
school ; later  he  was  a student  at  the  college  at  Ada,  Ohio,  and  fitted 
himself  for  teaching.  He  was  successfully  engaged  in  this  profession 
eight  years,  in  Hardin  county.  After  his  marriage,  in  August,  1884 
Mr.  Mathews  and  his  wife  lived  a year  and  a half  in  Washington  town- 
ship and  then  settled  in  Cessna  township,  where  they  own  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres.  He  carries  on  general  farming  and  Is  making  a 
specialty  of  stock-raising,  paying  special  attention  to  breeding  Ram- 
bouillet  sheep  of  pure  blood. 

Mr.  Mathews  is  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  as  is 
his  wife  and  they  belong  to  the  church  at  Huntersville,  Ohio.  He  was 
county  secretary  of  the  Sunday  schools  at  one  time,  and  is  actively 
interested  in  church  work.  He  is  also  a member  of  Pleasant  Hill 
Grange  and  for  four  years  was  steward  of  the  Ohio  State  Grange.  Mr. 
Mathews  has  served  his  county  and  township  in  many  useful  positions. 
He  is  a man  of  quiet,  unassuming  manner,  who  is  well  known  through- 
out the  community  and  highly  esteemed.  He  has  made  many  friends, 
and  his  business  relations  have  been  pleasant  and  profitable.  His  land 
is  located  in  section  8 and  17,  in  Cessna  township,  and  he  has  made  all 
modern  improvements.  The  house  is  one  of  the  best  and  most  comfort- 
able in  the  township,  and  the  other  buildings  are  in  good  order. 

Mr.  Mathews  married  Mamie  E.  Williamson,  who  was  born  in 
Pleasant  township,  March  18,  1861,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  and  Serena 
(Davis)  Williamson.  Mrs.  Mathews  was  educated  in  the  district 
schools,  Kenton  high  school  and  Ada  Normal,  and  taught  five  years  in 
the  Hardin  county  schools. 

Oren  L.  Williams  is  numbered  among  Hardin  county’s  native 
sons  and  among  its  representative  farmers  and  business  men.  He  was 
born  in  McDonald  township  on  the  6th  of  September,  1869,  a son  of 
Janies  W.  and  Sarah  J.  (Lyles)  Williams,  in  whose  family  were  the 
following  seven  children:  Fred,  Lewis  C.  (deceased),  Oren  L.,  Rose, 
Norman,  Sherman  and  Nora  (deceased). 


820 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Oren  L.  Williams,  the  third  born  son  and  child  in  the  family,  was 
reared  on  the  home  farm  in  McDonald  township,  and  during  the  days 
of  his  youth  he  supplemented  his  attendance  in  the  district  schools 
during  the  winter  months  with  farm  work  in  the  summers,  and  thus 
continued  until  about  his  eighteenth  year  when  he  left  the  school  room 
to  give  his  undivided  attention  to  farm  work  and  to  learning  the  car- 
penter’s trade.  After  his  marriage  he  settled  on  a farm  in  McDonald 
township,  and  on  his  twenty  acres  there  he  was  engaged  in  general 
agricultural  pursuits  and  at  the  work  of  his  trade  until  he  sold  his  land 
in  that  township  to  come  to  Lynn  township.  He  is  renting  two  hun- 
dred acres  of  land  here,  and  follows  a general  line  of  farming.  He  has 
served  as  a member  of  the  school  board  and  as  a health  officer,  and  in 
politics  he  is  a Republican  voter. 

On  the  3d  of  November,  1888,  Mr.  Williams  was  married  to  Harriet 
J.  Hesser,  born  in  Eden  township  of  Wyandot  county,  Ohio,  September 
13,  1871,  and  from  Pleasant  township  in  Hardin  county,  where  she  had 
located  in  about  1884,  she  came  to  McDonald  township,  where  her  father 
is  still  living.  The  six  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Williams  are : Ernest 
J.,  born  January  26,  1890;  Ray,  born  October  5,  1891;  Clara  B.,  born 
September  19,  1893;  Ina  Blanche,  born  June  16,  1895;  Lavina,  born 
October  3,  1898;  and  Walter  A.,  born  January  19,  1901.  Mr.  Williams 
has  membership  relations  with  the  Odd  Fellows  fraternity,  affiliating 
with  Amicitia  Lodge,  No.  79,  and  with  Scioto  Encampment,  No.  179, 
at  Kenton.  He  is  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at 
Foraker,  and  is  now  serving  his  church  as  a class  leader. 

William  PI.  Kinnear  has  lived  in  and  been  identified  with  the 
interests  of  Hardin  county  throughout  his  entire  life,  and  he  owns  one 
of  the  best  farming  estates  in  Lynn  township.  He  was  born  in  Pleas- 
ant township  of  Hardin  county  March  19,  1860,  a son  of  F.  D.  and 
Mary  J.  (Caruthers)  Kinnear,  born  respectively  in  Hardin  county  and 
in  Pennsylvania.  He  was  reared  on  a farm  in  Lynn  township  and 
attended  its  district  schools.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  left  the  school 
room  to  take  up  the  active  duties  of  farm  life,  but  he  remained  at  home 
with  his  parents  until  he  was  twenty-one.  His  present  homestead  farm 
contains  one  hundred  acres  of  choice  land  in  Lynn  township,  and  there 
he  is  also  extensively  engaged  in  the  raising  of  good  stock,  including 
horses,  cattle  and  sheep,  and  he  has  been  successful  in  both  his  general 
farming  and  stock-raising. 

On  the  15tli  of  February,  1893,  Mr.  Kinnear  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Jessie  May  Fuls,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  Lynn  township, 
born  on  the  6th  of  January,  1872,  a daughter  of  John  H.  Fuls.  The 
two  children  of  this  union  are  Ilo  J.,  born  December  22,  1893;  and 
Paul  W.,  born  December  1,  1897.  The  family  are  members  of  the  Lynn 
Valley  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Mr.  Kinnear  is  an  active  and 
efficient  church  worker,  a class  leader  and  a member  of  its  board  of 
trustees,  and  he  is  also  the  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school.  His 
political  affiliations  are  with  the  Republcan  party. 


DANIEL  FLANAGAN 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


821 


Daniel  Flanagan.,  for  many  years  editor  and  principal  owner  of 
the  Kenton  Democrat,  died  at  his  late  home  on  North  Main  street  on  the 
14th  of  February,-  1901.  He  was  born  in  county  Clare,  Ireland,  in  1840, 
and  came  with  his  parents  to  this  country  in  1848.  They  landed  at 
New  Orleans,  and  later  came  to  Butler  county,  Ohio,  where  the  young 
man  grew  to  mature  years.  From  Butler  county  he  went  to  the  office 
of  the  Cincinnati  Enquirer,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of  a printer,  and 
he  remained  there,  after  acquiring  the  trade,  as  a reporter  upon  the  staff. 
His  residence  in  Kenton  dates  from  December  8,  1866,  the  Sunday  on 
which  the  Catholic  church  of  this  city  was  dedicated  by  Archbishop 
Purcell.  He  soon  made  a bargain  with  Charles  Zahm  for  the  Advocate, 
supposed  to  be  the  organ  of  the  Hardin  county  Democracy,  but  in  those 
dark  hours  of  Democracy  immediately  following  the  war  it  took  a 
courageous  man  indeed  to  successfully  publish  a Democratic  paper. 
But  Daniel  Flanagan  demonstrated  that  he  had  the  acquired  ability. 
Changing  the  name  of  the  paper  to  the  Kenton  Democrat  he  made  it  a 
paper  that  won  for  itself  and  its  editor  a reputation  more  than  local. 
He  was  soon  known  over  Ohio  as  the  editor  of  one  of  the  stanchest  organs 
of  Democracy,  and  yet  while  always  a Democrat  with  an  almost  idola- 
trous devotion  to  party  he  so  conducted  himself  among  his  fellows  that 
he  won  many  friends  in  the  camp  of  his  political  enemies. 

From  1879  until  1885  Mr.  Flanagan  edited  the  Herald  of  Delaware, 
D.  S.  Fisher,  now  of  Warren,  being  the  proprietor  of  the  Democrat. 
While  editing  the  Herald  Mr.  Flanagan  secured  control  of  the  Union 
Democrat  of  Urbana  and  conducted  the  two  papers  for  three  years.  In 
1885,  by  a transfer  of  properties,  he  again  assumed  control  of  the  Kenton 
Democrat  and  held  it  until  his  death.  Associating  with  him  his  brother 
Thomas  and  his  brother-in-law,  Alfred  Mathews,  he  erected  a tine  home 
for  the  Democrat  on  East  Franklin  street,  and  the  paper  has  been  issued 
from  that  office  to  the  present  time  and  is  still  in  the  control  of  Mr. 
Flanagan’s  children,  who  have  associated  with  them  their  father’s 
former  partners.  His  good  and  faithful  wife,  who  was  Clotilda  B. 
Mathews,  a daughter  of  Bernard  Mathews,  deceased,  one  of  Hardin 
county’s  most  prominent  and  well-to-do  pioneer  citizens,  preceded  him 
in  death.  Mrs.  Flanagan  was  a woman  of  the  noblest  attributes,  a 
woman  who  was  ever  an  influence  to  highest  attainments  of  character, 
and  one  whose  life  was  rich  in  deeds  of  kindness.  It  was  truly  said 
of  her  that  she  was  one  of  God’s  loveliest  creatures.  Her  death  hastened 
that  of  Mr.  Flanagan. 

Daniel  Flanagan  was  of  a distinct  type,  a type  of  editors  that  is 
now  fast  disappearing.  He  was  an  editor  in  practice  as  well  as  theory ; 
he  was  an  editor  who  felt  it  his  stern  duty  to  be  ever  present  at  his 
office  looking  after  the  management  of  his  paper.  Rev.  Father  Sieben- 
foercher  spoke  truly  over  his  bier,  “Daniel  Flanagan  was  a very  busy 
man.  He  never  went  slowly.  He  seldom  had  time  to  rest.’’  This 
was  all  very  true,  and  had  he  been  less  a worker  and  had  he  been  more 
willing  to  leave  the  responsibilities  of  the  office  partly  resting  upon  other 
shoulders  he  might  still  be  alive,  but  lie  was  never  content  to  do  this,  and 
he  died  a martyr  to  his  work.  That  he  died  in  the  harness  must  have 


822 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


been  to  his  liking,  for  he  was  not  one  to  enjoy  ease.  He  would  not  have 
been  content  to  retire  from  the  editorial  chair,  and  perhaps  ’twere  best 
that  he  should  have  been  suddenly  summoned.  God  moves  in  a mys- 
terious way,  and  what  we  of  earth  often  call  a blow  the  great  Creator  of 
all  would  term  a blessing. 

Daniel  Flanagan  was  not  a child  of  wealth,  but  a creature  of  hard 
experience,  a builder  in  the  storm.  Poverty  and  hardship  have  ever 
been  the  greatest  school  masters  of  the  race  and  have  forced  into  promi- 
nence many  a man  who  otherwise  would  have  remained  unknown.  Com- 
ing with  his  parents  from  Ireland  at  a tender  age,  settling  in  Ohio  at  a 
time  when  this  was  “the  west’’  to  our  eastern  brethren,  the  future 
editor  early  learned  the  lessons  of  labor  in  a great  school,  the  office  of 
the  Cincinnati  Enquirer.  There  he  learned  the  newspaper  trade  from 
feeding  the  press  to  writing  editorials.  He  had  quickly  shown  the 
newspaper  instinct,  and  though  blessed  with  but  a meager  school  educa- 
tion he  soon  developed  into  a witty,  forcefid  and  keen  writer,  and  his 
associates  of  the  Enquirer  recognized  his  ability  and  power.  With  the 
ambition  characteristic  of  the  Celt  young  Flanagan  was  soon  looking- 
out  for  a paper  of  his  own,  and  through  the  courtesy  of  the  noted  Bloss 
he  came  to  Kenton  and  lived  here  all  these  years,  mingling  with  its 
people,  helping  to  build  up  the  town  and  wielding  a great  and  unmeas- 
ured influence  as  the  editor  of  the  oldest  paper  in  the  county.  In  the 
years  that  Mr.  Flanagan  presided  over  the  Kenton  Democrat  he  demon- 
strated to  the  people  with  whom  he  came  in  contact  two  things  at  least. 
He  was  brave  enough  to  defend  his  opinions  and  his  character  was  never 
failing.  No  one  who  knew  Mr.  Flanagan  will  deny  this.  Though  he 
may  have  had  his  faults — and  who  has  none — he  possessed  a charity 
that  covers  a multitude  of  sins.  Though  he  may  have  been  sometimes 
in  the  wrong — and  no  one  is  always  in  the  right — he  had  the  moral  and 
physical  courage  to  stand  for  the  right  as  he  saw  it,  and  he  never  failed 
to  defend  his  opinions  and  defend  them  with  a vigor  that  caused  his 
opponents  much  worry. 

His  life  as  the  editor  of  the  county  organ  of  Democracy  was  much 
like  the  stormy  petrel.  He  was  always  in  the  thick  of  the  fight,  and 
around  him  the  smoke  of  political  battle  was  ever  circling.  How  strange- 
ly coincident  that  he  should  have  entered  his  editorial  career  in  Kenton 
at  a time  when  his  party,  bleeding  from  the  wounds  of  internecine  strife, 
was  ingloriously  retreating,  and  he  laid  down  his  pen  at  a time  when  the 
same  party,  having  wandered  far  from  the  teachings  of  its  fathers,  and 
met  with  the  defeat  foretold  by  him  and  others  prominent  in  the  party’s 
counsels  who  were  ever  true  to  the  teachings  of  the  party’s  founders,  was 
trying  like  the  prodigal  to  find  the  path  that  led  to  the  old  homestead 
where  there  was  a plenty  and  to  spare.  The  editorial  life  of  Mr. 
Flanagan  was  daily  echoing  to  the  din  of  battle,  and  yet  he  seemed  to 
enjoy  it.  That  he  reveled  in  the  conflict,  that  he  thrived  under  stern 
opposition  and  prospered  under  bitter  criticism  were  soon  evidenced 
here.  The  Democrat  had  not  long  been  under  Mr.  Flanagan’s  control 
before  the  party  began  to  win  back  its  former  prestige.  And  this,  too, 
in  the  face  of  the  most  bitter  and  uncompromising  opposition  of  the 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


823 


Republicans.  In  those  days  editors  were  more  given  to  a newspaper 
exhibition  of  their  personal  animosities  than  now,  and  it  is  much  to  be 
questioned  if  any  editor  ever  had  to  endure  the  bitter  attacks  that  were 
made  on  Mr.  Flanagan.  No  name  was  mean  enough,  no  insinuation 
coarse  enough  for  the  Republican  editors  to  apply  to  the  young  editor. 
Yet  he  stood  it  like  a man.  He  thrived.  His  paper  prospered.  His 
party  gained  the  offices.  That  was  success. 

It  has  often  been  asked  why  Daniel  Flanagan  did  not  obtain 
personally  more  reward  for  his  work  in  behalf  of  party.  The  question  is 
easily  answered.  Men  of  definite  opinions  and  a courage  to  express 
them  can  never  hope  to  succeed  iu  politics.  Daniel  Flanagan  was  too 
pronounced  in  his  views.  He  could  not  hope  for  office,  but  his  work 
was  not  with  the  hope  of  office.  He  did  it  because  he  loved  his  party 
and  he  enjoyed  work.  He  was  proud  of  Democracy,  and  that  he  some- 
times criticised  the  leaders  of  his  party  in  these  later  days  should  only 
redound  to  the  glory  of  his  manly  courage.  Always  a Democrat,  too 
often  most  bitterly  a partisan,  yet  he  ever  knew  true  worth  when  he 
saw  it  and  he  never  failed  to  give  one  credit  for  faithful  performance  of 
duty,  be  the  performer  of  what  political  persuasion  he  chose.  This 
characteristic  won  many  friends  for  Mr.  Flanagan  among  Republicans, 
and  they  remained  his  friends  all  through  a stormy  life. 

In  business  as  in  politics  Mr.  Flanagan  was  frank,  quick  to  make  up 
his  mind,  always  ready  to  lend  a hand.  No  business  enterprise  was 
started  in  this  city  during  his  residence  here  that  Editor  Flanagan  did 
not  aid  in  some  way.  He  was  the  kind  of  a man  that  helps  a town. 
He  had  ever  a good  word  for  Kenton  and  Kentonians,  and  his  published 
words  of  encouragement  for  town  and  townsmen  will  remain  an  undying- 
tribute  to  his  memory.  Public  spirited  to  an  extraordinary  degree, 
generous  to  a fault,  this  man  who  might  have  been  rich  never  amassed 
any  considerable  amount  of  this  world’s  goods.  He  left  the  world  poor 
as  men  count  wealth  but  rich  in  kind  words,  noble  acts  and  imperishable 
deeds.  Too  often,  as  Anthony  said  over  the  bier  of  the  fallen  C®sar, 
"The  evil  that  men  do  live  after  them,  the  good  too  oft  is  interred  with 
their  bones,”  but  it  was  not  so  with  Daniel  Flanagan.  His  was  an 
open  life,  his  faults  he  did  not  conceal.  He  could  not  fawn  nor  flatter. 
He  never  tried  to  deceive.  What  he  thought  he  said.  If  it  were  wrong 
the  people  at  large  knew  it.  They  could  condemn.  If  it  were  right 
he  asked  no  praise.  True  to  the  inheritance  of  Irish  parentage  Daniel 
Flanagan  was  quick  to  take  offense,  quicker  to  forgive.  If  lie  erred  he 
was  willing  to  make  amends.  It  he  wronged  any  one  his  was  the  first 
voice  to  ask  forgiveness.  In  many  ways  he  was  the  living  embodiment 
of  that  sound  sensible  advice  of  Thoreau,  “Be  resolutely  and  faithfully 
what  you  are,  humbly  what  you  aspire  to  be.  Be  sure  you  give  men  the 
best  of  your  wares,  though  they  be  poor  enough,  and  the  gods  will  help 
you  lay  up  a better  store  for  the  future.  Man’s  noblest  gift  to  man  is 
his  sincerity,  for  it  embraces  his  integrity  also.’’ 

And  Daniel  Flanagan  is  dead.  His  last  copy  has  been  edited,  the 
page  of  his  life  book  has  been  closed  and  the  recording  angel  has  closed 
the  volume  not  again  to  be  opened 


824 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Till  the  sun  grows  old 

And  the  stars  grow  cold 

And  the  leaves  of  the  judgment  book  unfold. 

Today  he  sleeps  under  the  fir  trees  of  yonder  hill.  The  snow  has  wet 
with  her  pure  tears  the  sod  above  his  grave,  the  flowers  of  spring  have 
given  him  the  tribute  of  their  perfume.  Those  who  knew  him  living 
will  revere  him  dead,  and  coming  generations  will  learn  from  the  lips  of 
the  present  to  honor  his  memory.  And  this  by  a contemporary  was 
justly  said  of  him:  “When  some  future  historian  shall  take  up  pen  to 
tell  of  those  who  helped  to  make  Kenton  the  model  of  thrift  and  industry 
that  she  is  he  will  in  justice  to  truth  pay  a tender  tribute  to  Daniel 
Flanagan,  printer,  editor  and  citizen,  but  above  all  else  a man.” 

H.  M.  Boroff,  one  of  the  representative  farmers  of  Jackson  town- 
ship, owns  one  hundred  acres  of  valuable  land.  He  was  born  in  Allen 
county,  Ohio,  in  1851,  and  as  a child  removed  with  his  parents  to  Mer- 
cer county,  Ohio,  where  he  was  educated  in  the  public  schools.  When 
a young  man  he  removed  to  Van  Wert  county,  where  he  resided  until 
after  his  marriage,  in  1876.  He  is  a son  of  Harrison  and  Rebecca 
(Ross)  Boroff,  of  Mercer  county,  where  they  resided  on  a farm  until 
their  deaths.  They  were  the  parents  of  fifteen  children,  eleven  of 
whom  grew  to  maturity,  namely:  Amanda,  Alfred,  John,  Nancy  A., 
Elizabeth,  H.  M.,  Jacob,  Richard  and  Jennie  (twins),  Benjamin  and 
Lincoln. 

H.  M.  Boroff  removed  to  his  present  home  in  Hardin  county  in 
1901 ; he  is  an  enterprising  and  practical  farmer,  and  having  spent 
most  of  his  life  in  this  vocation  has  been  very  successful.  Mr.  Boroff 
is  a public-spirited,  loyal  citizen,  and  stands  well  in  the  community. 
He  is  an  earnest  member  of  and  worker  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  belongs  to  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  Mr. 
Boroff  married  Anna  Ford,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  six  children, 
as  follows : Orla ; Glen,  pastor  of  a church  in  the  North  Ohio  Conference ; 
Joseph,  deceased;  Florence;  Hazel;  Austin,  deceased.  Mrs.  H.  M. 
Boroff  died  in  May,  1907. 

Elmer  S.  Kaylor,  prominent  as  a farmer  and  stock  raiser  in  Cessna 
township,  was  born  in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  May  22,  1868,  a son  of  George 
F.  and  Christena  (Houtz)  Kaylor.  George  F.  Kaylor  was  a son  of  Reu- 
ben Kaylor,  who  came  from  his  native  state  Pennsylvania  with  his  family 
to  Logan  county,  Ohio,  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  there.  His 
son  George  became  a farmer  and  stockman  there,  but  finally  moved  from 
there  to  Auglaize  county  and  still  later  to  Hardin  county.  From  Pleas- 
ant township,  where  he  had  first  located  on  coming  to  Hardin  county, 
he  came  to  Cessna  township  in  March,  1886,  establishing  his  home  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  his  sons,  Elmer  and  Claudius,  and  there  he  passed 
away  in  death  in  1888.  His  widow  still  survives  him  and  is  living  in 
Kenton.  She  is  a daughter  of  John  Houtz,  born  in  Pennsylvania. 

Elmer  S.  Kaylor  was  a lad  of  eighteen  years  when  he  came  with 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


825 


the  family  to  Cessna  township,  and  the  educational  training  which  he 
had  previously  gained  in  the  district  schools  was  supplemented  by  study 
in  the  schools  of  Ada,  Ohio.  In  association  with  his  brother,  Claudius 
C.  Kaylor,  he  owns  four  hundred  and  twenty-two  acres  of  land  in  one 
body  in  Cessna  township,  and  he  has  gained  a wide  reputation  as  a stock 
raiser,  raising  principally  sheep,  hogs,  cattle  and  horses.  He  is  an  in- 
fluential local  worker  in  the  ranks  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  has 
served  his  township  as  a justice  of  the  peace  and  as  a trustee  and 
treasurer. 

Mr.  Kaylor ’s  wife  was  before  marriage  Mary  Cessna,  a daughter  of 
the  late  Zack  Cessna,  and  she  was  born  and  reared  in  Cessna  township. 
The  seven  children  which  have  blessed  their  marriage  union  are  Maloda 
C.,  Lulu  I.,  George  B.,  Clay  C.,  Elmer  E.,  Harry  I.  and  Hugh  W.  Mr. 
Kaylor  is  a member  in  high  standing  of  the  Salem  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  he  is  serving  his  church  as  a steward  and  trustee  and  as  a 
member  of  its  Sunday  school.  He  also  has  membership  relations  with 
the  Grange  and  with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 

i 

Alpheus  McConnell. — A man  of  sound  judgment  and  much 
ability,  Alpheus  McConnell,  residing  in  McDonald  township,  Hardin 
county,  is  intimately  associated  with  the  development  of  the  agricultural 
and  industrial  interests  of  his  community  as  a carpenter  and  farmer. 
A son  of  Hugh  McConnell,  he  was  born,  October  11.  1842,  in  Medina 
county.  Hugh  McConnell  was  born  of  German  parents  December  1, 
1811,  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  but  was  reared  in  Wayne 
county,  Ohio,  where  his  parents  settled  when  he  was  a child.  After  his 
marriage  he  moved  to  Medina  county,  from  there  coming,  in  1853,  to 
Hardin  county,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  April 
5,  1859.  He  married  Mary  Lance,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
December  13.  1811,  and  as  a girl  came  with  her  parents  to  Wayne  county, 
Ohio.  She  survived  her  husband,  passing  away  in  April,  1870. 

Obtaining  his  early  education  in  the  common  schools  of  Medina  and 
Hardin  counties,  Alpheus  McConnell  became  familiar  with  the  labors 
incidental  to  farm  life  when  young,  and  also  developed  his  natural 
mechanical  ability  by  learning  the  trade  of  a carpenter.  He  has  since 
followed  farming  and  carpentering  in  McDonald  township,  where  he  is 
numbered  among  the  esteemed,  valued  and  trustworthy  citizens.  Dur- 
ing the  Civil  war  Mr.  McConnell  enlisted,  September  16,  1864,  in  the 
One  Hundred  and  Seventy -ninth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served 
until  receiving  his  honorable  discharge  June  17,  1865,  being  on  guard 
duty  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  the  greater  part  of  the  time.  He  is  an 
uncompromising  Republican  in  politics,  and  is  now  one  of  the  trustees 
of  McDonald  township. 

Mr.  McConnell  married,  April  5,  1863,  Polly  Paver,  a daughter  of 
James  and  Ruth  (Meredith)  Paver,  former  residents  of  Buck  township. 
Mr.  Paver  died  June  23,  1880,  in  Hardin  county,  and  Mrs.  Paver  died 
at  the  home  of  her  daughter,  Mrs.  McConnell.  January  3,  1887.  Eight 
children  have  blessed  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McConnell,  namely: 
Sarah  Ella,  born  January  21,  1864,  married  George  Washington  Strain, 


826 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


and  they  have  one  child,  Erma  Strain ; Calvin  Llewellyn,  born  October 
5,  1866,  lives  with  his  parents ; Carrie  May,  born  November  28,  1869, 
married  Elmer  Decker,  of  McDonald  township,  and  two  children  have 
been  born  to  them,  Howard,  who  died  at  the  age  of  three  years,  and 
Raymond;  Edith  Estella,  born  May  14,  1873,  married  Alec  Given 
MacDonald,  and  died  April  13,  1909,  leaving  her  husband  and  four  sons, 
Lloyd  Adlai,  Leo  Vernon,  Paul  Ernest  and  Percy  Given;  Charlie,  living 
at  Grand  Rapids,  Michigan,  born  April  10,  1875,  married  Edna  Fuller, 
of  Michigan,  and  they  have  one  child,  Harold  Donald;  Mertie  Ann,  born 
July  10,  1877,  married  Henry  IT.  Llarvey,  of  Kenton,  and  they  have 
two  children,  Walter  Enoch  and  Louis  Alpheus;  Howard  Harvey,  born 
July  23,  1880,  married  Eva  Snyder,  and  to  them  four  children  have  been 
born.  Elsie  Ellen,  Mary  Wilma,  Charlie  Grey  and  Mertie ; and  Earl 
Wayne,  the  youngest  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McConnell,  born  August  12, 
1883,  married  September  18,  1909,  Mary  Varvel. 

Thomas  Cochran  Dodds. — Noteworthy  among  the  active  and  ener- 
getic men  that  have  made  farming  their  life  occupation  and  in  its  pur- 
suit have  met  with  much  success  is  Thomas  Cochran  Dodds  of  McDonald 
township,  Hardin  county.  A native  of  this  county,  he  was  born, 
October  21,  1857,  in  Buck  township,  on  the  Kenton-Ridgeway  pike,  a son 
of  the  late  John  Dodds,  of  Scotch-Irish  lineage. 

John  Dodds  was  born,  in  1806,  in  Pennsylvania,  being  one  of  a 
family  of  seven  children,  of  whom  one  son,  Joseph  Dodds,  born  in  1792, 
served  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  subsequently  lived  to  the  venerable  age 
of  ninety-four  years.  John  Dodds  married,  in  Champaign  county,  Ohio, 
Nancy  Gary,  who  was  born  in  1822,  at  Louisburg,  Champlain  county. 
Of  the  children  born  of  their  union  two  served  in  the  Civil  war,  Andrew 
and  Joseph.  Andrew  Dodds  was  a private  in  the  army  and  died  during 
the  war,  in  1863.  Joseph  Dodds,  now  residing  in  Ridgeway,  Hardin 
county,  enlisted  in  the  Union  army  in  1861,  and  served  until  the  close 
of  the  war,  when  he  was  honorably  discharged  from  the  service.  He  took 
an  active  part  in  many  important  engagements,  and  at  the  battle  of 
Missionary  Ridge  was  wounded  in  the  right  shoulder. 

Receiving  a practical  education  in  the  rural  schools  of  Hardin 
county,  Thomas  Cochran  Dodds  began  his  career  as  a wage  earner  in 
William  Dodds’  saw  mill,  in  which  he  was  employed  for  four  years. 
Renting  then  the  farm  of  Joseph  McArthur,  he  managed  it  for  a year, 
and  then  leased  from  his  brother  ninety-five  acres  of  timbered  land, 
twenty  of  which  he  cleared.  Five  years  later  Mr.  Dodds  rented  the 
sixty-five-acre  farm  belonging  to  Charles  McGinnis,  and  was  there 
employed  in  tilling  the  soil  five  years.  The  following  seven  years  he 
carried  on  his  chosen  occupation  on  the  Breen  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
forty-four  acres.  Moving  then  to  the  Tom  Espy  homestead,  he  tilled 
its  ninety  acres  for  three  years,  after  which  he  lived  on  the  Henry 
Pfeiffer  place  for  a year.  Returning  then  to  the  Breen  farm,  Mr. 
Dodds  was  there  engaged  in  general  farming  for  six  years.  In  March 
1903,  he  bought  his  present  place  of  ten  acres,  and  in  its  improvement 
has  met  with  well  deserved  success.  A decided  Republican  in  politics, 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


827 


Mr.  Dodds  has  served  as  assessor  of  his  township,  and  is  now  township 
trustee. 

Mr.  Dodds  married,  March  4,  1875,  Mary  A.  McGinnis,  daughter  of 
John  and  Katherine  (Muller)  McGinnis,  of  McDonald  township.  The 
following  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dodds,  namely : 
Demar  Dorothy,  Ora,  Bertha,  Nettie,  Maggie,  John  0.,  Benjamin,  Fred, 
George,  Nancy  Elizabeth.  Thomas  Gary,  Ernest  and  Hernia,  twins,  and 
Leo  and  Fred.  Nancy  E.,  Thomas  G..  Ernest  and  Hernia,  died  in 
childhood.  Demar  Dorothy  Dodd,  born  in  June,  1876,  died  on  the  27th 
of  February,  1909.  She  married  Daniel  Vermilion,  and  they  became 
the  parents  of  six  children,  namely : Mildred,  who  died  in  infancy ; 

Clara,  Golcla,  Clarence,  Etta,  and  Mary.  Ora  Dodds,  deceased,  mar- 
ried Cyrus  Neglev,  of  McDonald  township,  and  to  them  five  children 
were  born,  namely:  Eva,  deceased;  Homer;  Zena ; Joe;  and  Harry, 
deceased.  Bertha  Dodds,  who  married  D.  H.  Lowry,  became  the 
mother  of  four  children,  namely:  Robert,  deceased;  Ray;  Harry;  and 
Eva  Naomi.  Nettie  Dodds  married  William  Fultz,  and  they  have 
three  children,  Ernest,  Earl  and  Edith.  Maggie,  who  married  Frank 
Hites,  became  the  mother  of  two  children,  Oney,  deceased  and  Galley. 

Alfred  IIites. — A man  of  industry,  enterprise  and  ability,  Alfred 
Hites,  of  McDonald  township,  occupies  an  assured  position  among  the 
successful  agriculturists  of  the  Buckeye  state,  of  whom,  mayhap,  no 
other  county  can  boast  so  large  a number  in  proportion  to  its  population 
as  Hardin.  A son  of  the  late  George  Hites,  he  was  born  in  this  town- 
ship March  3,  1848,  coming  from  German  ancestry. 

A native  of  Rockingham  county,  Virginia,  George  Hites  was  born, 
July  14,  1815.  As  a young  man  he  migrated  to  the  western  frontier, 
locating  in  Carroll  county,  where  he  lived  until  after  his  marriage.  In 
1839  he  bought  sixty-two  and  one-half  acres  of  wild  land  in  McDonald 
township,  Hardin  county,  and  having  by  dint  of  sturdy  pioneer  labor 
cleared  a large  part  of  it  he  subsequently  bought  another  timbered 
tract  of  equal  area,  and  continued  his  agricultural  work.  On  the 
homestead  which  he  redeemed  from  the  wilderness  he  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life,  passing  away  May  15,  1898.  He  married,  in 
Carroll  county,  Ohio,  Elizabeth  Hatfield,  who  was  born  March  15,  1815, 
and  died  November  10,  1896.  To  them  six  children  were  born,  namely : 
William,  of  Kenton,  married  Caroline  Spencer,  and  of  the  seven  children 
born  of  their  union  four  died  in  infancy,  Adam  died  at  the  age  of 
three  months,  and  the  other  two,  Anna  and  Arthur  Banning,  are  resi- 
dents of  Hardin  county;  Mary  Ann,  born  June  9,  1840,  died  in  1842; 
Marianna,  born  September  30,  1849,  died  in  the  same  year;  Alfred,  the 
special  subject  of  this  sketch;  Nancy  Jane,  who  was  born  June  4,  1852, 
and  died  March  2,  1874,  married  P.  Sumner,  of  Roundhead,  and  had  one 
child,  now  deceased;  and  George  Westley,  born  July  20,  1857,  died 
August  14,  1857. 

Educated  in  the  district  schools.  Alfred  Hites  was  early  initiated 
into  the  mysteries  of  farming,  and  finding  that  occupation  congenial  to 
his  tastes  as  well  as  profitable  he  has  since  devoted  his  attention  to  the 


828 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


pursuit  of  agriculture.  He  now  owns  forty-eight,  and  one-half  acres  of 
the  land  belonging  formerly  to  the  parental  homestead,  and  in  its  care 
and  management  has  met  with  most  satisfactory  results.  Politically 
a stanch  supporter  of  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party,  Mr.  Hites 
has  never  shirked  the  responsibilties  of  public  office,  but  has  served 
as  township  supervisor  and  as  a school  director.  Religiously  he  is  a 
valued  member  of  the  Baptist  church. 

On  December  2,  1875,  Mr.  Hites  was  united  in  marriage  with  Alice 
Willard,  who  was  born,  May  24,  1858,  in  Mercer  county,  Missouri,  a 
daughter  of  the  late  Joseph  Willard.  Mr.  Willard  was  twice  married, 
by  his  first,  wife  having  three  children,  namely:  John  Henry,  who  served 
in  the  Civil  war,  and  was  killed  in  battle;  Martha,  Jane;  and  Mary 
Elizabeth.  Mr.  Willard  married  for  his  second  wife  Elizabeth  IJudnut, 
and  of  the  children  born  of  their  union  six  grew  to  mature  life,  as 
follows:  William;  James;  Emeline ; Joseph  Fremont,  deceased;  Alice, 

wife  of  Mr.  Hites ; and  Jennie.  William  Willard,  a resident  of  Holmes 
county,  Ohio,  married  first  Mary  Berry,  who  died  in  early  womanhood, 
leaving  one  child,  Jennie,  of  Cleveland.  William  married  for  his 
second  wife  Minnie,  MacLean,  and  they  have  had  the  following  children: 
Dalmar;  Jennie,  deceased;  Harry;  and  Fannie.  James  Willard,  who 
lives  in  Iowa,  married  Rachel  McGinnis,  and  to  them  five  children  have 
been  born,  Thomas ; Clara  Belle ; Effie ; Robert ; and  a child  that  died  in 
infancy.  Emeline  Willard,  of  Wayne  county,  widow  of  the  late  John 
Saunders,  bore  him  six  children,  Frank,  deceased;  Thomas,  a resident 
of  Wayne  county;  Idell,  deceased;  Jennie,  wife  of  Harvey  Burnett,  has 
two  children;  Hazel,  wife  of  Harry  Cliff,  has  one  child;  and  Maggie 
residing  with  her  mother.  Jennie  Willard,  Mrs.  Hites’  youngest  sister, 
married  John  Shearer,  of  Holmes  county,  and  they  became  the  parents 
of  the  following  named  children : Blanche  Shearer,  married  Edward 

Hostetler,  and  has  three  children,  John,  Frank,  and  Arthur;  John  F. 
Shearer,  living  at  home;  Edna  Shearer  married  John  Stink,  of  Pitts- 
burg, and  has  four  children;  Charles  Shearer,  single,  resides  with  his 
parents;  Harry  Shearer,  also  living  at  home;  Walter,  living  at  home; 
and  Rachel  Shearer,  deceased. 

Seven  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hites,  namely:  a 
child  that  died  in  infancy;  Rosette;  Erma  Virginia;  Bertha;  Homer 
Emerson ; Leslie  Harrison,  living  with  his  parents ; and  Blanche,  living 
at  home.  Rosette  Hites,  the  oldest  daughter,  married  Charles  IJanna- 
krat,  of  Logan  county,  Ohio,  and  into  their  home  five  children  have  been 
born,  namely : Grace  Reed,  living  with  her  grandparents ; Myrl ; Daisy 
Verona;  Alice  Odessa,  deceased;  and  Ethel  Virginia.  Erma  Virginia 
Hites  married  George  MacFarland,  of  Kenton,  Ohio.  Bertha  Hites, 
who  married  Virgil  Simpson,  died  in  January,  1906,  leaving  two  chil- 
dren, Gladys  Simpson,  deceased;  and  Paul  Simpson.  Homer  Emerson 
Hites  married  Clementine  Coolidge  and  they  have  two  children,  Opal 
Idelle  and  Arol  May. 

Albert  B.  Charles  was  horn  and  reared  in  Richland  county,  Ohio, 
and  settled  in  Ada  in  early  manhood,  beginning  his  career  as  a grain 


* 


MR.  AND  MRS.  JACOB  VASSAR 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


829 


dealer.  A man  of  marked  financial  and  executive  ability,  he  became 
prominent  in  the  affairs  of  the  city,  and  served  not  only  as  cashier  of 
the  Citizens’  Bank  but  was  mayor  of  Ada  and  a member  of  its  school 
board.  In  1885  he  Avas  elected  treasurer  of  Hardin  county,  and  re- 
elected to  the  same  office  in  1887,  serving  until  his  death  in  1888.  He 
was  a member  of  the  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons  and  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  in  each  organization  taking  great  interest.  He 
married  Autha  Morehead,  who  Avas  born  in  Richland  county,  near 
Mansfield,  and  is  now  living  in  Kenton,  Ohio.  Of  the  three  children 
born  of  their  union,  one  died  in  infancy,  and  tAvo  are  living,  namely: 
Eugene,  mentioned  below,  and  Arthur  B.,  of  Seattle,  Washington. 

A man  of  undoubted  integrity  and  worth,  Eugene  Charles  holds 
high  rank  among  the  more  intelligent  and  popular  business  men  of 
Hardin  county,  which  he  is  now  serving  acceptably  as  county  treasurer. 
A resident  of  Kenton,  he  has  spent  the  larger  part  of  his  life  within  its 
limits,  and  has  taken  an  active  part  in  advancing  its  best  interests. 
He  Avas  born,  August  14,  1875,  at  Ada,  Hardin  county.  A boy  of 
eleven  years  AArhen  he  came  to  Kenton,  he  Avas  here  educated,  and  in 
1893  began  life  on  his  own  account  as  deputy  clerk  in  the  office  of  the 
county  treasurer.  He  Avas  subsequently  assistant  cashier  of  the  Kenton 
National  Bank,  holding  that  position  from  November.  1895,  until  Sep- 
tember, 1907,  AAdien  he  assumed  his  present  office  as  county  treasurer  of 
Hardin  county,  to  which  he  was  elected  in  1906  and  reelected  in  1908. 
Mr.  Charles  is  a Democrat  in  politics,  and  a member  of  the  Masonic 
order,  in  which  he  has  taken  three  degrees,  and  of  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks.  Mr.  Charles  is  one  of  the  younger  genera- 
tion of  men,  and  is  not  only  a prominent  member  of  business,  political 
and  social  circles,  but  is  one  who,  continuing  his  useful  activities,  aauII, 
without  doubt,  become  connected  Avith  more  important  events  of  town, 
county  and  state. 

James  Ezra  Vassar. — One  of  the  most  successful  farmers  and  stock- 
men  of  Taylor  Creek  township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  is  James  Ezra 
Vassar,  Avho  Avas  born  on  his  present  homestead  November  11,  1867,  a 
son  of  Jacob  and  Mary  (CorAvin)  Vassar.  Jacob  Vassar  was  born  in 
Logan  county,  Ohio,  October  4,  1837,  and  was  a son  of  Daniel  Vassar,  a 
native  of  New  Jersey.  Daniel  Vassar  was  accidentally  killed  by  a horse 
in  1862,  at  the  age  of  about  forty-seven  years.  He  moved  to  Ohio 
from  Virginia  as  a young  man,  settling  in  Logan  county,  where  he  car- 
ried on  his  trade  of  a carpenter.  He  was  married  in  Logan  county, 
to  Mary  Ann  Kerns,  and  he  and  his  family  afterwards  removed  to 
Missouri,  Avhere  he  died. 

After  acquiring  his  education  in  the  public  school,  Jacob  Vassar 
remained  with  his  parents  until  his  marriage,  at  the  age  of  twenty-tAvo 
years,  and  then  settled  on  the  present  home  in  Hardin  county.  He 
settled  in  the  woods,  proceeded  to  clear  land  and  erected  the  present 
home.  He  first  cleared  thirty  acres,  then  added  sixty  acres  more.  He 
became  very  successful  as  a farmer  and  also  became  a timber-worker, 
making  staves  by  hand,  in  Avhich  manner  he  paid  for  his  home.  He 
Vol,  11—25 


830 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


started  for  Minnesota  in  1863,  then  enlisted  in  the  Civil  war  as  a 
teamster  and  driver  for  one  year,  later  fired  an  engine  on  a steamboat, 
in  the  employ  of  the  government,  for  hauling  supplies.  At  the  close 
of  the  war  he  returned  to  his  home  and  carried  on  farming  until  his 
death,  July  10,  1895.  He  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of  the  Church 
of  Christ  of  Ridgeway,  and  politically  was  a Democrat,  though  he  never 
cared  for  public  office.  He  was  a member  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows  and  the  local  Grange. 

On  September  24,  1857,  Jacob  Vassar  married  Mary  Corwin,  a 
native  of  Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  born  April  6,  1840,  a daughter  of 
Daniel  Corwin,  a native  of  Logan  county,  Ohio,  who  later  moved  to 
Scotland  county,  Missouri.  He  died  in  1900,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
eight  years.  Mr.  Corwin  married  Nancy  Williams,  who  died  in  1850. 
Jacob  Vassar ’s  widow  survives  him,  has  now  reached  the  age  of  seventy 
years  and  resides  with  her  son  James  E.  The  other  children  who  sur- 
vive are  as  follows : Lydia,  wife  of  J.  S.  Ludenburg,  a farmer  of 

Michigan ; Nancy,  wife  of  B.  Britton,  an  attorney ; Olive,  wife  of 
Thomas  Hauser,  of  Patterson,  Ohio;  Thomas  K.,  of  Bellefontaine ; and 
Daniel,  a farmer  of  Hale  township.  Besides  these  there  are  two 
daughters  and  two  sons  deceased.  Mrs.  Vassar  is  a member  of  the 
Church  of  Christ. 

The  education  of  James  Ezra  Vassar  was  obtained  in  the  public 
schools,  after  which  he  began  working  on  a farm.  When  twenty-two 
years  old  he  began  working  for  his  father,  and  worked  three  years  on  the 
old  home,  farming  and  raising  stock.  He  then  moved  to  Logan  county, 
where  he  carried  on  a farm  five  years,  after  which  he  returned  to  the 
home  farm  and  bought  out  the  other  heirs.  He  carries  on  general 
farming  and  pays  special  attention  to  stock  raising.  He  owns  one 
specially  fine  registered  horse,  “Harold,”  aged  four,  of  English  Shire 
stock  which  was  imported  by  the  Hartman  Importing  Company,  of 
Columbus,  also  a fine  road  horse,  “Noki’’  No.  41512,  also  aged  four  years. 
He  also  owns  several  other  brood  mares  and  colts. 

Politically  Mr.  Vassar  is  a Democrat,  and  is  active  in  the  interests 
of  his  party.  In  1906  he  was  elected  a justice  of  the  peace  of  Taylor 
Creek  township,  and  is  serving  in  his  second  term.  He  is  a a charter 
elder  of  the  Church  of  Christ.  He  is  an  enterprising  and  ambitious 
and  business-like  farmer,  and  carries  on  his  work  by  modern  methods 
and  in  accordance  with  modern  ideas.  He  can  remember  many  hard- 
ships he  and  the  members  of  his  family  had  to  bear  during  his  youthful 
days;  he  well  recalls  that  at  one  time  a heavy  storm  killed  a cow  which 
was  the  main  support  of  the  family. 

In  1889  Mr.  Vassar  married  Cinda  Gardner,  born  November  11, 
1873,  daughter  of  Freeman  Gardner,  who  died  in  1909,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-five  years.  Mr.  Gardner  was  a native  of  Pennsylvania  and  one 
of  the  pioneers  of  Hardin  county.  He  married  Joan  Jennings,  who 
survives  him  and  has  now  reached  the  age  of  eighty-four  years.  Mrs. 
Vassar  died  March  14,  1908,  after  nearly  twenty  years  of  happy  wedded 
life,  having  been  in  delicate  health  for  years.  She  was  a patient  sufferer 
and  her  mild  and  beautiful  nature  was  loved  by  all  who  knew  her, 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


831 


She  had  a large  circle  of  friends,  who  held  her  friendship  in  high 
esteem  and  admired  her  personality.  Her  loss  was  widely  mourned,  by 
her  fellow  church  members  especially,  and  by  all  who  knew  her.  She 
was  an  active  worker  in  the  Presbyterian  church,  of  which  she  was  a 
member.  Mr.  Vassal’  and  his  wife  had  children  as  follows:  Randall, 
born  October  29,  1890,  at  home;  Joseph,  born  July  30,  1892;  Pauline, 
born  November  2,  1897 ; and  Jacob  Gardner,  born  December  26,  1898.  Mr. 
Vassar  is  well  known  in  the  community,  where  he  has  spent  almost  his 
entire  life,  and  is  greatly  respected. 

Samuel  Hiram  Faltner,  a well  known  and  prosperous  agricul- 
turist of  Hardin  county,  residing  in  McDonald  township,  has  for  many 
years  been  an  able  assistant  in  developing  and  advancing  the  farming 
interests  of  this  part  of  the  state.  A son  of  the  late  Vance  Faltner,  he 
was  born,  December  10,  1866,  in  Logan  county.  For  a number  of  years 
Vance  Faltner  resided  in  Logan  county,  but  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
in  November,  1909,  was  a resident  of  Columbus,  Ohio.  He  was  twice 
married.  He  married  first,  a Miss  Brown,  by  whom  he  had  three  child- 
ren, namely:  Anna,  James  and  Samuel  Hiram.  Anna  married  William 
Fisher,  of  Bellefontaine,  and  of  the  four  children  born  of  their  union  two 
are  living,  Roy  and  Ethel  May.  James,  the  second  child,  resides  in 
Louisiana,  Vance  Faltner  married  for  his  second  wife  Mary  Ann  Watt, 
and  their  only  child,  Jesse  Faltner,  died  when  fourteen  years  old. 

His  mother  dying  when  he  was  an  infant.  Samuel  Hiram  Faltner 
was  brought  up  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Ford,  who  eared  for  him  as 
tenderly  as  if  he  were  their  own  child.  He  was  educated  in  the  district 
schools,  and  during  his  entire  life  has  devoted  his  time  and  energies  to 
the  cultvation  of  the  soil,  which  at  his  touch  yields  abundant  harvests, 
his  well  kept  and  well  managed  farm  being  one  of  the  best  improved 
in  Roundhead  township.  Mr.  Faltner  is  a steadfast  Republican,  having 
voted  that  ticket  for  twenty-two  years,  but  he  has  never  been  an  aspirant 
for  political  honors,  neither  has  he  ever  joined  any  secret  organization. 

James  Ford,  Mr.  Faltner ’s  foster  father,  was  successfully  engaged 
in  general  farming  until  1894,  when  he  located  in  McDonald  township, 
Hardin  county,  where  he  has  since  resided,  an  honored  and  respected 
citizen.  He  married,  September  16,  1841,  Louisa  Emeline  Goodnow,  who 
was  born  in  Champaign  county,  Ohio,  February  14,  1825.  Her  father, 
Levi  Goodnow,  was  born,  in  1790,  in  Vermont,  and  there  married  Cyn- 
thia Beebee,  whose  birth  occurred  in  that  state  in  1796.  Eight  children 
were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ford,  namely:  John  Riley,  Elmira,  Clara 
Josephine,  Levi  R.,  Edward  Sheldon,  Sarah  Jane,  William  Frank  and 
Louisa  Ellen.  John  Riley  Ford,  the  first  born,  died  March  16,  1848. 
Elmira,  who  married  Ira  Downing,  of  Kenton.  Ohio,  died  December  30, 
1867,  leaving  one  child,  Luther  Downing.  Clara  Josephine  Ford  died 
November  13,  1870.  Levi  R.  Ford,  the  fourth  child  in  succession  of 
birth,  died  June  15,  1897.  He  married,  June  13,  1867.  Elizabeth  Hews, 
and  to  them  were  born  children  as  follows:  Jesse  E.,  who  lived  but 
three  months;  William  C.,  living  at  Saint  Marys,  married  Ida  White- 
head;  Clara  Ellen,  wife  of  Tim  Bogan,  of  Saint  Marys,  has  had  six 


832 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


children,  of  whom  but  two  are  living,  Ruth  and  Georgia  Ellen ; Nora 
Emeline,  wife  of  John  Cawlick,  of  Lake  View,  has  had  two  children,  Wes- 
sie  Ford,  deceased,  and  Dorothy  May;  James  Alexander,  deceased;  Clara 
S.,  deceased  and  Jesse  Elmer,  deceased.  Edward  Sheldon  Ford,  the 
fifth  child  in  order  of  birth,  born  August  9,  1850,  died  June  11,  1909. 
Sarah  Jane  Ford,  born  October  21,  1853,  married  Ephraim  Young,  and 
of  their  union  four  children  were  born,  Earl,  who  married  a young 
lady  of  Troy,  Illinois ; Mary  Emeline,  of  Troy ; Bertha,  wife  of  a 
Mr.  Stephens;  and  James,  the  oldest  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Young,  died 
in  May,  1903.  William  Frank  Ford,  who  died  in  January,  1899, 
married  Rachel  Sunderland,  who  has  also  passed  to  the  life  beyond. 
They  became  the  parents  of  nine  children,  as  follows : Glenna,  wife 
of  Francis  Hankins,  has  one  child,  Eliza;  Naomi,  wife  of  Venton  Engle, 
of  Wapakoneta,  has  one  child,  Ruth  Engle;  Ida  died  at  the  age  of  eleven 
years;  James  George,  deceased;  and  five  children  that  died  in  infancy, 
the  two  next  to  the  last  being  twins.  Louisa  Ellen  Ford,  who  married 
Jesse  T.  Bowdle,  of  Roundhead  township,  became  the  mother  of  three 
children,  namely : Pearl,  wife  of  Stuart  Fisher,  postmaster  at  Round- 
head,  has  one  child,  Louisa  Katherine ; Oryl,  deceased ; and  Irwin,  of 
Roundhead,  who  married  Edna  Young. 

Andrew  Breitenstin,  a substantial  and  successful  farmer  of  Dud- 
ley township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Franklin  county, 
Ohio,  May  3,  1855,  and  is  a son  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Enggasser) 
Breitenstin.  The  former  was  born  in  Baden,  Germany,  and  died  in 
Ohio,  in  1869,  at  the  age  of  fifty-two  years,  three  months  and  twenty- 
seven  days.  He  came  with  his  wife  and  one  child  to  America,  February 
19,  1850,  spending  a short  time  at  New  Orleans.  Mrs.  Breitenstin  died 
October  9,  1904,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years.  Two  years  after  reaching 
New  Orleans  they  moved  to  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  in  1865  located  in 
Hardin  county,  where  they  bought  forty  acres  of  land  in  Dudley 
township.  Three  years  later  they  located  on  the  old  Richley  farm  in 
Goshen  township,  where  Mr.  Breitenstin  died.  He  was  a member  of  the 
German  Lutheran  church,  a Democrat  in  political  affairs  and  actively 
interested  in  the  success  of  his  party.  Besides  Andrew  their  children 
were:  Theodore,  a farmer  of  Goshen  township;  Esther,  wife  of  Fred 
Born,  of  Goshen  township ; and  Elizabeth,  deceased. 

The  youth  of  Andrew  Breitenstin  was  passed  on  a farm,  and  he 
attended  the  country  schools  until  fifteen  years  of  age.  After  the 
death  of  his  father  he  worked  on  the  homestead  which  his  mother  pur- 
chased, and  remained  with  her  until  her  death.  He  purchased  an  ad- 
ditional forty  acres  and  lived  on  the  home  farm  until  1904,  when  he 
sold  his  interest  and  bought  his  present  farm  where  he  has  made  all 
possible  improvements.  He  makes  a specialty  of  stock  raising  and  is  a 
prosperous  and  energetic  farmer.  He  has  earned  his  success  through 
his  own  efforts,  and  always  been  industrious  and  ambitious.  He  is  a 
member  of  St.  John’s  church  in  Goshen  township,  of  which  he  has 
served  as  trustee.  Politically  he  is  a Democrat  but  has  never  cared  for 
public  office. 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


833 


On  September  15,  1881,  Mr.  Breitenstin  married  Anna  Gertrude 
Bishop,  who  was  born  March  28,  1858,  in  Hardin  county,  daughter  of 
George  Bishop.  Her  father  was  born  in  Hessen,  Germany,  and  at  the 
age  of  thirty-seven  years  came  to  the  United  States  and  settled  in 
Goshen  township,  Hardin  county.  Five  years  later  he  sold  out  and 
located  in  Buck  township,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life 
and  died  in  November,  1891,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years.  His  wife, 
Catherine  Elizabeth  Roeder,  died  in  1902,  at  the  age  of  eighty-five 
years.  Mrs.  Breitenstin ’s  grandfather,  Michael  Bishop,  married  Eliza- 
beth Fink.  Besides  Mrs.  Breitenstin  her  parents  had  children  as  follows : 
Elizabeth,  born  December  28,  1840,  widow  of  George  Roeder,  and  two, 
the  oldest  and  youngest,  deceased.  Mrs.  Breitenstin  is  a member  of 
St.  John’s  church,  and  is  an  active  worker  in  the  Ladies’  Society  con- 
nected with  the  church. 

To  Mr.  Breitenstin  and  his  wife  four  children  were  born,  namely: 
George  William,  born  January  2,  1883,  married  Luella  Abbott  and  they 
have  two  children : Frieda  Marie  and  Dorothy  May ; John  Jacob,  born 
February  13,  1885,  single  and  living  at  home;  Leo  Theodore,  born 
December  29,  1889,  living  at  home  with  his  parents ; and  Fred  Edward, 
born  December  30,  1891,  also  living  at  home. 

Otis  Daniel  Brungard. — Among  the  energetic,  enterprising  and 
far-sighted  men  who  are  contributing  their  full  share  towards  the  devel- 
opment and  advancement  of  the  commercial  prosperity  of  Hardin  county 
is  Otis  Daniel  Brungard,  who  as  a miller,  grain  dealer  and  shipper,  is 
carrying  on  a substantial  business.  A son  of  the  late  John  Brungard, 
he  was  born,  February  1,  1871,  in  Mahoning  county,  Ohio,  in  New 
Middletown.  His  grandfather,  George  Brungard,  a native  of  Maryland, 
migrated  to  Ohio  in  the  year  1832,  locating  in  Springfield  township, 
Mahoning  county. 

Brought  up  on  the  home  farm,  John  Brungard  began  life  for  him- 
self as  a merchant,  for  five  years  being  located  in  New  Middletown. 
Subsequently  removing  to  Wooster,  Ohio,  he  was  there  for  three  years 
engaged  in  the  milling  business,  running  a flour  mill  and  elevator.  Go- 
ing then  to  Pittsburg,  he  was  there  similarly  employed  for  ten  years. 
In  1885  having  disposed  of  his  interests  in  that  place,  and  of  his  farm 
in  Mahoning  county,  he  came  to  Ridgeway,  and  here  founded  the  milling 
and  grain  business  now  carried  on  so  successfully  by  his  sons,  it  being 
the  most  extensive  plant  of  the  kind  between  the  lake  and  Columbus, 
Ohio.  Here  he  resided  until  his  death,  March  27,  1906.  He  was  a 
valued  member  of  the  Reformed  church,  and  was  active  in  public  affairs, 
being  a man  of  ability  and  eminent  trustworthiness.  He  served  several 
years  as  a trustee  of  Mahoning  county ; was  treasurer  of  Ridgeway  ■ and 
was  the  first  president  of  the  Ridgeway  Banking  Company.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Young,  who  was  born,  April  11,  1844,  in  Germany, 
and  came  to  this  country  with  her  parents  at  the  age  of  ten  years.  She 
passed  to  the  life  beyond  June  13,  1891.  Five  children  were  born  of 
their  union,  namely:  Ella,  deceased;  George  C.,  a grain  dealer  at  West 
Mansfield;  Otis  D.,  the  subject  of  this  brief  sketch;  Laura  Barbara,  wife 


834 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


of  John  McGill,  of  Poland,  Ohio;  and  John,  of  whom  a short  sketch  may- 
be found  on  another  page  in  this  volume. 

Attending  the  common  schools  as  a boy,  Otis  Daniel  Brungard  was 
brought  up  on  the  home  farm  until  sixteen  years  of  age,  when  he 
entered  the  Heidelberg  University,  at  Tiffin,  where  he  continued  his 
studies  until  1889.  Turning  his  attention  then  to  the  reading  of  medi- 
cine, he  was  graduated  from  the  Western  Pennsylvania  Medical  College, 
in  Pittsburg,  in  1897,  with  the  degree  of  M.  D.,  and  for  four  years  was 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Edinburg,  Pennsylvania. 
After  the  death  of  his  father,  Mr.  Brungard,  in  partnership  with  his 
brothers  succeeded  to  the  grain  business  established  by  their  father, 
and  have  continued  it  since  with  marked  success.  This  firm,  Brungard 
Brothers,  which  was  incorporated  with  a capital  of  $50,000,  purchased, 
in  1907,  the  Big  Springs  Mill  and  elevator,  and  with  their  elevator  at 
Horton,  built  in  1904,  is  carrying  on  an  extensive  business,  handling  on 
an  average  two  hundred  thousand  bushels  of  grain  annually.  Mr. 
Brungard,  true  to  the  religious  faith  in  which  he  was  reared,  is  a member 
of  the  Reformed  church,  and  fraternally  he  belongs  to  Lodge  No.  588,  A. 
F.  & A.  M.,  of  West  Mansfield. 

Mr.  Brungard  married,  July  11,  1906,  Ina  McElhaney,  who  was 
born,  March  11,  1883,  in  Ridgeway,  a daughter  of  Robert  McElhaney. 
Mr.  McElhaney  was  born  in  Ireland  sixty-seven  years  ago.  Emigrat- 
ing to  this  country  in  1864,  he  settled  in  Hardin  county,  where  he  was 
for  a while  engaged  in  farming.  In  1875  he  opened  a store  of  general 
merchandise  at  Ridgeway,  becoming  a pioneer  merchant  of  this  place. 
He  married  Cornelia  A.  Dugan,  who  was  born  in  Franklin  county,  Ohio, 
a daughter  of  Michael  and  Sarah  Dugan,  her  birth  occurring  in  1856. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brungard  have  one  child,  a boy  born  January  25,  1910, 
named  Otis  D.  Brungard. 

Alfred  K.  Raney. — One  of  the  strongest  forces  in  the  public  and 
industrial  life  of  Hardin  county  for  many  years  has  been  found  in 
Alfred  K.  Raney,  whose  life  span  of  many  decades  has  been  years  of 
purposes  well  directed,  who  has  made  for  himself  a place  in  connection 
with  the  activities  and  honors  of  life  and  who  has  successfully  sur- 
mounted obstacles  and  gained  recognition  for  intrinsic  worth  of 
character. 

Alfred  K.  Raney  was  born  in  Franklin  county,  Ohio,  June  13,  1837, 
a son  of  Benjamin  and  a grandson  of  Adam  Raney,  who  came  from  his 
native  land  of  Germany  and  established  his  home  in  Franklin  county, 
Ohio,  there  remaining  until  his  death.  Benjamin,  his  son,  bom  near 
Groveport,  Ohio,  died  in  October  of  1840,  when  fifty-eight  years  of  age. 
After  leaving  the  school  room  he  farmed  with  his  father  until  his 
marriage,  at  that  time  entering  some  land  for  himself,  and  clearing  it 
he  continued  its  cultivation  until  his  death,  also  erecting  and  operating 
for  fifteen  years  a tannery.  He  was  a good  Christian  man,  a member 
of  the  Methodist  church.  Of  the  children  born  to  him  and  his  wife,  nee 
Mary  Arnold,  three  are  now  living:  Benjamin,  whose  home  is  in 

Huntington,  Indiana ; Margaret,  the  widow  of  Charles  Goodman  and  a 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


835 


resident  of  Kokomo,  that  state ; and  Alfred  K.  Mrs.  Raney  died  at  tlie 
home  of  Catharine  Funk,  an  older  daughter  in  Kokomo  in  1904,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-six  years. 

One  of  his  parents’  nine  children  and  one  of  the  three  surviving 
ones,  Alfred  K.  Raney,  after  his  father’s  death,  remained  with  the  five 
youngest  of  the  children  with  his  mother  on  the  homestead,  but  at  the 
early  age  of  twelve  he  began  working  for  others  at  whatever  a boy  could 
find  to  do,  thus  earning  sufficient  means  to  continue  his  schooling  in  the 
fall,  this  including  one  term  in  a select  school  in  Stark  county.  After 
his  marriage  in  the  spring  of  1858  he  located  at  old  Fort  McArthur,  and 
the  log  house  which  he  built  there  with  its  corner  posts  was  the  first  of 
its  kind  in  Hardin  county.  He  left  there  in  1880,  in  the  meantime 
having  purchased  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  in  Hale  township,  and 
building  a substantial  residence,  and  in  1897  he  left  that  Hale  township 
farm  to  come  to  Taylor  Creek  township,  here  purchasing  his  farm 
opposite  Grange  Hall.  He  followed  a general  line  of  farming,  making 
the  raising  of  Jersey  cattle,  Poland  China  hogs  and  sheep  a special 
feature  of  his  business,  and  he  lias  the  largest  yoe  sheep  in  Hardin 
county,  the  animal  weighing  three  hundred  pounds.  He  is  also  inter- 
ested in  a patent  mower,  for  which  he  invented  a swath  cleaner  and 
improved  swath  board  and  which  he  had  patented  in  the  United  States 
and  in  Canada. 

While  Mr.  Raney  has  ever  been  faithful  in  citizenship  and  in  civil 
life,  his  military  career  also  redounds  to  his  credit  as  a loyal  and  faithful 
soldier  of  the  Union.  On  the  28th  of  July,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Company 
I,  Forty-fifth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  as  a private  under  Lieutenant 
England,  and  for  three  years  he  served  with  the  Army  of  General 
Burnside.  While  following  Morgan  through  Ohio,  Mr.  Raney  received 
his  first  wound,  and  following  General  Sherman  to  Kenesaw  Mountain, 
Georgia,  June  28,  1864,  he  was  shot  through  the  back  of  the  neck,  the 
same  bullet  wounding  another  soldier.  They  lay  under  the  entrench- 
ments on  the  field  until  carried  to  a place  of  safety,  and  when  partially 
recovered  were  taken  to  a division  hospital  for  treatment.  While  on  a 
three  days’  absence  from  the  hospital  Mr.  Raney  visited  his  regiment 
and  finding  no  commanding  officer  of  his  rank  he  took  charge  and  par- 
ticipated in  the  second  day ’s  fight  at  Nashville,  Tennessee.  He  received 
his  first  promotion  as  second  lieutenant  on  the  10th  of  November,  1863, 
while  on  the  10th  of  February,  1864,  he  was  commissioned  a first  lieu- 
tenant, promoted  to  captain  February  6,  1865,  mustered  out  of  the 
service  on  the  12th  of  the  following  June  at  Camp  Harker,  Tennessee, 
as  a brevet  major.  Shortly  after  his  return  home  Mr.  Raney  was 
elected  the  sheriff  of  Hardin  county,  entering  the  office  the  1st  of 
January,  1866,  and  during  the  years  1883-4-5-6  he  represented  his 
county  in  the  state  legislature.  Throughout  his  membership  in  the 
house,  covering  two  terms,  he  was  a member  of  the  Soldiers,  Sailors  and 
Orphans  Home  at  Xenia,  Ohio,  and  against  great  odds  he  succeeded  in 
gaining  for  the  home  an  appropriation  of  eight  hundred  dollars  for  a 
training  blacksmith  shop  to  be  installed  therein,  and  Mr.  Raney  got  a bill 
passed  to  erect  a new  county  jail  costing  $40,000.  His  labors  as  a 


836 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


legislator  were  far  reaching  and  effective.  During  the  World’s  Fair 
at  Chicago  he  was  commissioned  to  represent  Hardin  county  on  wheat 
in  the  agricultural  department.  Since  1902  he  has  served  as  a justice 
of  the  peace  in  Taylor  Creek  township,  and  on  the  31st  of  October,  1890, 
he  was  greatly  honored  by  being  made  the  department  commander  of  a 
Union  veteran  organization,  with  headquarters  at  Kenton.  He  is  a 
member  and  has  served  in  all  the  offices  of  Silver  Creek  Grange,  No. 
1570,  is  a member  and  a past  officer  of  the  Odd  Fellows  fraternity,  and 
is  a member  of  the  United  Methodist  church.  He  is  also  a member  and 
the  commander  of  the  Grand  Army  post  at  Roundhead.  He  with  a 
number  of  others  were  the  builders  of  the  first  graveled  pike  which  was 
built  one  and  a half  miles  out  on  the  Kenton  and  Lima  road. 

On  the  30tli  of  September,  1856,  Mr.  Raney  was  married  to  Eliza- 
beth Smith,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  the  following  children : 
Jessie  D.,  whose  home  is  in  Columbus ; Lydia,  the  wife  of  Harris  Steven- 
son, and  they  have  four  children ; Mattie,  wife  of  William  Winner,  of 
Silver  Creek,  and  they  have  eight  children,  the  eldest  son  being  also 
married  and  having  one  child ; and  Eveline,  also  in  Columbus.  Mr. 
Raney  married  for  his  second  wife  Lulu  Kremplebein,  a daughter  of 
John  and  Mary  Kremplebein,  and  they  have  a daughter,  Dorsey,  aged 
fourteen  years  and  now  in  school. 

William  H.  Getz,  one  of  the  representative  farmers  of  Washington 
township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  has  resided  here  for  nearly  two  decades, 
and  since  1897  has  owned  his  present  farm,  which  comprises  a hundred 
acres  of  choice  and  valuable  land.  Mr.  Getz  is  a native  of  Snyder 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  born  and  reared  on  a farm,  the  date  of 
his  birth  being  November  29,  1856.  His  parents,  Henry  and  Caroline 
(Booger)  Getz,  both  natives  of  the  “Keystone  State,”  had  a family  of 
eight  children,  namely:  Mary,  William  II.,  Perry  D.,  George  M., 

Catherine  E.,  Emma  C.,  John  and  Daniel  W.  The  last  two  named  are 
deceased.  Henry  Getz,  the  father,  was  born  on  the  28th  of  February, 
1831,  and  died  on  July  14,  1899.  He  was  a soldier  in  the  Civil  war, 
Company  H,  One  Hundred  and  Ninety-ninth  Regiment,  Pennsylvania 
Infantry.  He  enlisted,  in  1863,  for  one  year,  at  the  end  of  which  time 
he  was  honoraby  discharged;  then  he  reenlisted,  and  remained  with  his 
command  until  the  close  of  hostilities,  when  he  again  received  an 
honorable  discharge.  During  his  service  he  was  an  active  participant 
in  several  hotly  contested  battles ; he  received  two  slight  wounds,  one  on 
the  back  of  his  neck  and  the  other  on  his  hand,  and  he  returned  home 
with  a record  for  valor  and  fearlessness. 

In  1877,  on  reaching  his  majority,  William  H.  Getz  left  the  old  home 
in  Pennsylvania  and  went  to  Arlington,  Hancock  county,  Ohio,  where  he 
remained  until  1888.  Since  that  date  he  has  been  a resident  of  Wash- 
ington township,  Hardin  county,  his  postoffice  being  Williamstown. 
During  this  time  he  has  been  honored  with  local  office.  For  over  six 
years  he  was  township  trustee  and  for  the  past  nine  years  he  has  been  a 
member  of  the  school  board.  He  began  life  in  Hardin  county  with  only 
eleven  dollars  and  fifty  cents  and  a wife. 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


837 


In  1888,  in  his  native  county,  Mr.  Getz  married  Miss  Jane  E. 
Greenhoe,  and  seven  children  have  been  given  to  them,  namely : Mary 
E.,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  J.  E.  Moses;  Vernon  C.,  who  married  Miss 
Margaret  West;  Mabel  D. ; Ralph  H. ; Ruth;  Leonard,  and  a child  that 
died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Getz  is  a Christian  gentleman,  a worthy  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  by  his  upright,  honorable  life  he  has 
won  the  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens. 

Mr.  Reuben  Greenhoe,  father  of  Mrs.  Getz,  was  in  the  Civil  war  for 
three  years  and  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  on  May  27,  1899.  He  was 
born  and  always  lived  in  Snyder  county,  Pennsylvania,  a tanner  by  trade 
and  a good  one.  His  wife’s  name  was  Rachel  (Winter)  Greenhoe.  She 
died  aged  sixty-four  and  was  also  a native  of  Synder  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania. They  had  eight  children : Anna,  Jane,  Charles,  died  when 

small,  Mary,  Frank  (deceased),  Jacob  (deceased),  Libbie  and  William. 
All  live  in  Pennsylvania  but  Libbie,  who  lives  in  New  Jersey. 

A.  J.  Garmon  is  one  of  the  agriculturists  of  Washington  township, 
where  he  owns  a splendidly  improved  estate  of  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
six  acres  of  choice  farming  land  and  on  which  he  raises  the  best  of  crops. 
This  farm  has  been  purchased  at  various  times  since  his  removal  to 
Hardin  county  in  1881,  and  as  a whole  it  is  a valuable  and  desirable 
property.  Thirty-six  acres  of  the  tract  were  purchased  in  1893,  fifty 
acres  in  1898  and  the  remaining  fifty  in  1902,  and  new  and  splendid 
buildings  now  complete  this  estate.  Mr.  Garmon  was  born  in  Hancock 
county,  Ohio,  in  1865,  being  there  also  reared  and  educated,  and  reach- 
ing man’s  estate  he  chose  farming  as  his  vocation.  He  is  a son  of  John 
and  Catherine  (Miller)  Garmon,  who  came  from  their  native  common- 
wealth of  Pennsylvania  to  Hancock  county,  Ohio,  during  an  early  period 
in  the  county’s  history,  in  1858,  and  they  owned  a farm  of  sixty  acres 
there.  Their  children  were  as  follows:  Fannie,  Clara,  Trella,  Frank- 

lin, Delilah,  A.  J.  and  Millie.  John  Garmon  was  born  in  Pennsylvania 
in  1810,  and  died  in  Washington  township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  in  1903. 
He  came  here  in  1881,  and  became  the  owner  of  a farm  of  eighty-seven 
and  a half  acres,  the  present  home  of  his  widow.  She  has  reached  the 
age  of  seventy-four  years. 

A.  J.  Garmon  has  been  twice  married,  wedding  first  Miss  Nora  E., 
a daughter  of  W.  K.  and  Lucretia  Zehner,  and  she  died  in  1902,  leaving- 
two  children,  Edna  L.  and  Lauren.  Mr.  Garmon  married  for  his 
second  wife  Miss  Florence  A.  Zehner,  a sister  of  his  former  wife.  The 
second  marriage  was  solemnized  in  1904.  They  belong  to  the  Grange. 

Dr.  Usher  Parsons  Leighton,  who  was  for  many  years  associated 
with  the  political  and  public  circles  of  Kenton,  Ohio,  and  vicinity,  be- 
longed to  a family  that  has  lived  for  many  generations  in  America,  and 
they  have  taken  their  part  in  promoting  general  welfare  and  progress 
wherever  found.  Usher  P.  Leighton  was  born  at  Eliot,  Maine,  March 
16,  1810,  and  died  at  Kenton,  Ohio,  August  26,  1878.  His  memory  is 
still  tenderly  cherished  by  those  who  had  the  pleasure  of  knowing  him 
intimately  and  appreciating  his  many  good  qualities. 


838 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


The  emigrant  ancestor  of  this  family  was  born  in  Devonshire, 
England,  about  1625,  and  about  1650  came  to  America,  settling  at 
Kittery,  Maine.  His  name  was  Captain  William  Leighton;  he  was  a 
ship-master  and  a man  of  intelligence  and  education.  Captain  Leighton 
married  Katherine,  daughter  of  Nicholas  Frost,  of  Kittery,  who  was  born 
at  Tiverton,  England,  in  August,  1633.  By  this  union  there  were  five 
children. 

The  father  of  Usher  P.  Leighton,  Samuel  (called  General  Samuel) 
Leighton,  was  born  in  Kittery,  Maine,  May  25,  1771,  and  died  at  Alfred, 
Maine,  in  October,  1848.  He  was  married,  in  December,  1799,  to 
Frances  Usher,  daughter  of  William  Parsons,  of  Alfred.  Samuel 
Leighton  was  a man  of  considerable  prominence  and  influence,  and 
served  as  representative  from  his  district  to  the  general  assembly  at 
Boston,  in  1809.  He  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  for  thirty-five  years 
and  was  appointed  judge  of  the  court  of  sessions  of  York  county,  in  1820. 
He  was  quite  active  iu  military  affairs,  having  been  appointed  ensign,  by 
General  Hancock,  August  20,  1792;  colonel  in  1800  and  brigadier  general 
in  1818.  He  was  the  father  of  ten  children,  of  whom  Usher  P.  was  the 
seventh. 

Usher  P.  Leighton  came  to  MeCutchenville,  Ohio,  in  1831,  and  there 
read  medicine  with  Dr.  Sampson.  In  1833-34  he  attended  medical 
lectures  at  Bowdoin  College,  of  Brunswick,  Maine,  and  in  1835  received 
a diploma  from  Brown’s  University,  of  Providence,  Rhode  Island.  In 
March,  1836,  Dr.  Leighton  came  to  Kenton  and  commenced  the  practice 
of  medicine,  becoming  very  siiccessful.  He  soon  won  his  way  into  the 
hearts  and  confidence  of  the  people  of  the  community,  and  built  up  a fine 
practice.  He  was  a nephew  of  Dr.  Usher  Parsons,  of  Providence, 
Rhode  Island,  for  whom  he  was  named.  Dr.  Parsons  distinguished 
himself  as  a surgeon  while  with  Commodore  Perry,  in  the  battle  on  Lake 
Erie,  and  his  wife  was  a sister  of  Oliver  Wendell  Holmes. 

Dr.  Leighton  was  elected  three  times  treasurer  of  Hardin  county 
and  discharged  his  duties  with  honor  and  credit.  He  was  instrumental 
in  founding  the  First  Presbyterian  church,  in  Kenton,  Ohio,  donating 
the  lot  upon  which  it  was  built  and  considerable  lumber  for  its  erection. 
He  founded  the  Pioneer  Association  of  Hardin  county,  July  4,  1871,  and 
was  its  president  while  he  lived.  He  was  always  ready  to  contribute  to 
any  worthy  benevolent  cause  and  had  at  heart  the  welfare  of  the  com- 
munity. He  was  an  active  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows. 

January  19,  1840,  Dr.  Leighton  married  Ellen  Houser,  daughter  of 
Jacob  Houser.  She  was  born  in  Fairfield  county,  Ohio,  September  7, 
1822.  Her  father  was  a native  of  Pennsylvania  and  moved  to  Kenton 
in  1832,  entering  many  acres  of  land.  ITe  donated  land  for  a public 
square  and  courthouse  in  Kenton.  Mrs.  Leighton  died  October  28,  1893. 

Five  children  were  born  to  Dr.  Leighton  and  his  wife,  two  of  whom 
died  in  infancy.  His  son,  George  Leighton,  was  born  in  Kenton,  April 
16,  1842,  and  had  four  daughters:  Anna  P.,  Georgia  P.,  Grace  H.  and 
Virginia  P.  Anna  Leighton,  the  oldest  daughter  of  Dr.  Leighton,  was 
born  June  14,  1844,  and  married  George  Gregg,  (now  deceased)  Decem- 
ber 5,  1866.  She  resides  in  Pittsfield,  New  Hampshire  and  has  one 


/ 


HOSEA  JOHNSON 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


839 


daughter,  Frances  L.  . Martha  Ellen,  the  youngest  daughter  of  Dr. 
Usher  P.  Leighton,  was  born  April  18,  1848,  and  died  February  14, 
1902.  She  was  married,  December  7,  1871,  to  B.  F.  Brunson,  of 
Wisconsin,  and  they  have  had  four  sons,  two  of  whom  are  living  at 
Fort  Smith,  Arkansas,  Jay  L.  and  Alcott.  George  Leighton  is  a 
successful  and  prominent  citizen  of  Kenton,  Ohio,  where  he  is  engaged 
in  real  estate  business. 

IIosea  Johnson. — In  the  death  of  Hosea  Johnson,  one  of  the  old 
and  honored  pioneers  of  Hardin  county  passed  to  his  final  reward. 
His  birth  occurred,  December  11,  1817,  in  Monroe  township,  Logan 
county,  Ohio.  Rheumatism,  which  afflicted  him  to  some  extent,  in- 
capacitated him  for  manual  labor,  but  his  mental  faculties  were  un- 
dimmed, and  he  was  young  in  his  sympathies  and  progressive  in  his 
ideas,  talking  interestingly  not  only  of  by-gone  times,  when  people  lived 
the  simple  life,  but  on  the  current  topics  of  the  day. 

Jacob  Johnson,  his  father,  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  of  Holland  an- 
cestry. When  a boy  he  moved  with  his  parents  to  Kentucky,  settling  as 
pioneers  in  Bourbon  county.  The  country  roundabout  was  then  sparsely 
settled,  the  nearest  trading  post  being  twenty-five  miles  away,  in  Mason 
county,  where  to  obtain  even  salt,  a commodity  of  which  every  family 
used  more  or  less,  a journey  on  horseback  must  be  made.  In  1816,  with 
his  wife  and  seven  children,  he  came  to  Ohio,  making  the  removal  with 
teams,  and  was  among  the  original  settlers  of  Logan  county.  Taking 
up  a squatter’s  claim,  he  built  two  log  cabins,  connecting  them  by  roof 
and  floor.  He  cleared  a small  patch,  and  in  addition  to  raising  some 
corn  made  sugar.  Deer,  bears,  wild  turkeys  and  other  game  were 
abundant,  supplying  the  family  larder  with  what  are  now  deemed  lux- 
uries. He  also  raised  flax,  and  kept  sheep,  and  his  good  wife  used  to 
card,  spin  and  weave  the  material  from  which  she  fashioned  the  garments 
in  which  the  entire  family  was  clothed.  After  living  in  that  clearing 
seventeen  years,  Jacob  Johnson  moved  to  the  northeastern  part  of  Logan 
county,  about  two  miles  from  the  present  city  of  Rushsylvania,  where 
he  bought  eighty-seven  acres  of  heavily  timbered  land.  He  built  a log 
cabin,  and  began  the  improvement  of  a farm,  leaving  the  work,  however, 
as  he  was  then  well  along  in  years,  to  his  sons,  Peter  and  IIosea.  He  there 
resided  until  his  death,  in  the  ninetieth  year  of  his  age. 

He  married,  in  Kentucky,  Rachel  Greene,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy-three  years.  Twelve  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jacob 
Johnson,  namely:  Polly,  Andrew,  George,  John,  Peter,  Henry,  Jane, 
Hosea,  Jacob  W.,  Paris  Fleming,  Nelson  M.  and  Philip  G.  While  living 
in  Kentucky,  both  he  and  his  united  with  the  Free  Will  Baptist  church, 
There  being  none  of  his  religious  faith  in  Ohio  when  he  came  here  with 
his  family,  he  joined  the  Calvinistic  Baptists,  who  were  believers  in  pre- 
destination. Unwilling  to  subscribe  to  that  doctrine,  he  withdrew  his 
membership  from  that  body,  enlarged  his  cabin,  invited  a Methodist 
to  preach  there,  and  from  that  beginning  a Methodist  church  was  organ- 
ized, and  both  he  and  his  wife  died  in  that  faith. 

Obtaining  his  knowledge  of  the  three  “r’s”  in  the  pioneer  schools 


840 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


of  his  day,  Hosea  Johnson  began  as  soon  as  large  enough  to  assist  his 
father  on  the  farm,  living  with  his  parents  until  taking  upon  himself 
the  cares  of  a married  man.  Beginning  life  then  even  with  the  world, 
he  rented  land  and  began  housekeeping  in  a log  cabin  near  Miles  City. 
A few  months  later  he  rented  a tract  of  land  on  the  Sandusky  road,  there 
raised  two  crops,  after  which  he  leased  land  for  two  years  in  Union 
county.  Locating  then  in  Lane  township,  Logan  county,  Mr.  Johnson 
had  charge  of  the  farm  of  his  uncle,  George  Greene,  for  seven  years. 
Industrious  and  enterprising,  he  accumulated  considerable  money  during 
his  years  of  renting  land,  and  this  sum  he  invested  in  land,  buying 
seventy-nine  acres  adjoining  his  uncle’s  estate,  paying  eleven  dollars  an 
acre.  Five  acres  were  cleared,  but  there  were  no  other  improvements. 
Failing  to  obtain  good  water,  Mr.  Johnson  sold  at  a small  advance,  and 
then  in  October,  1850,  came  to  Hardin  county,  and  settled  on  his  present 
farm.  He  bought  first  one  hundred  acres, paying  twelve  dollars  an  acre. 
Fifty  acres  of  the  oak  timber  had  been  cleared,  and  a hewed  log  house  had 
been  erected.  He  afterward  cleared  the  remaining  half  of  the  original 
tract,  and  purchased  other  land  at  various  times,  his  aggregate  holdings 
amounting  to  five  hundred  and  twenty  acres.  Mr.  Johnson  made  im- 
provements of  an  excellent  character,  placing  his  land  under  a good 
state  of  cultivation,  and  erected  a good  brick  house  and  substantial  farm 
buildings,  everything  about  him  indicating  ample  means  and  cultivated 
tastes. 

Mr.  Johnson  married,  January  2,  1840,  Nancy  Rosebrook,  who  was 
born  in  West  Liberty,  Logan  county,  Ohio,  a daughter  of  Hilkiah  and  Sus- 
anna (Dearduff)  Rosebrook,  natives  of  Virginia,  and  Pioneers  of  Logan 
county,  Ohio.  She  died  January  11,  1900,  at  a ripe  old  age,  eighty- 
three  years.  Ten  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson,  namely: 
Susanna,  Elizabeth,  John  C.,  Sophronia,  George,  Mieajah,  Jane,  Mar- 
garet, Peter  and  Mollie.  Susanna  married  James  Morrison  and  had  eight 
children.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Morrison  she  became  the  wife  of  L.  T. 
Calvin,  by  whom  she  had  two  daughters.  Elizabeth,  wife  of  H.  N.  Smith, 
has  eight  children.  John  C.  married  Anna  Rarey,  and  they  have  eight 
children.  Sophronia,  wife  of  Paschal  Latimer,  has  five  children.  George 
married  Julia  Harmon,  and  they  have  two  children.  Mieajah  married 
Ollie  Hyde,  and  they  have  one  child.  Jane,  wife  of  Milton  Davis,  has 
two  children.  Margaret,  wife  of  Milton  Lee,  has  four  children.  Peter 
married  Emma  Vogel,  and  they  have  three  children.  Mollie  married 
George  Baumunk,  who  has  charge  of  Mr.  Johnson’s  homestead. 

A Universalist  in  his  religious  beliefs,  Mr.  Johnson  was  broad  in 
his  views,  believing  in  the  fatherhood  of  God  and  the  brotherhood  of 
man.  He  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for  William  Henry  Harrison, 
and  became  a Republican  when  the  party  was  formed,  and  continued 
a fearless  advocate  of  its  principles,  supporting  them  by  voice  and  vote. 
Hosea  Johnson  passed  from  this  life  on  the  20th  of  January,  1910. 

He  was  an  optimist,  having  an  unusual  cheerful  disposition ; he  saw 
only  the  good  and  succeeded  in  pointing  out  the  blessings  of  God  to 
others;  so  positive  was  he  in  seeing  only  God’s  grace  and  goodness 
that  he  became  a Universalist  in  faith ; he  had  an  unusally  bright  mind 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


841 


and  a good  memory  so . that  he  was  able  to  quote  with  the  mind  of  a 
scholar,  poetry  and  the  classics ; he  was  a great  singer  and  loved  the 
hymns  of  the  church ; his  love  for  children  was  very  marked  and  as  a 
result  the  children  all  loved  him. 

He  was  a kindly  man,  a man  of  men.  He  lived  for  the  good  he 
could  get  out  of  life,  the  contentment  of  home  and  loved  ones.  He  was  at 
the  time  of  his  death  the  dean  of  the  Ansleys  and  Johnsons  and  was 
for  years  the  principal  character  at  their  annual  reunions.. 

Hosea  was  the  last  of  this  good  family  to  pass  to  the  better  world 
on  Thursday  afternoon,  January  20th,  1910,  closing  his  weary  eyes  to 
sweet,  sweet  rest  at  the  age  of  92  years,  1 month  and  9 days. 

Uncle  Hosea  Johnson  and  Nancy  Rosebrook  were  joined  in  the  holy 
bonds  of  matrimony  and  lived  a happy  and  prosperous  life  of  sixty 
years  together,  celebrating  the  event  with  their  children  January  1, 
1900.  On  the  day  following,  the  good  wife  and  mother  was  striken 
with  paralysis  and  after  nine  days  passed  away  to  her  home  in  heaven. 

The  surviving  children  of  this  grand  old  couple  are  — Mrs.  Susanna 
Calvin,  Mrs.  H.  N.  Smith,  Mrs.  Jennie  Davis,  Mrs.  Margaret  Lee,  and 
Mrs.  Mollie  Baumunk,  and  four  sons  John  C.  and  George  of  Hardin 
county,  and  Mac  and  Peter  of  Glendora,  California.  Also  forty-five 
grandchildren  and  fifty  great-grandchildren  survive. 

Uncle  Hosea  in  early  life  was  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  but  later  happily  embraced  the  Universalist  faith  and  greatly 
rejoiced  in  the  faith,  and  the  profession  of  belief  that  the  Holy  scrip- 
tures of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments  contain  a revelation  of  the  charac- 
ter of  God  and  the  duty,  interest  and  final  destination  of  mankind;  that 
there  is  one  God  whose  nature  is  love,  revealed  in  one  Lord  J esus  Christ 
by  one  holy  spirit  of  grace  who  will  finally  restore  the  whole  family  of 
mankind  to  holiness  and  happiness.  All  who  ever  met  Uncle  Hosea  will 
ever  remember  his  good  advice  and  prayers  for  their  welfare. 

George  Baumunk  was  born  in  February,  1863,  in  Wyandot  county. 
Ohio,  a son  of  John  and  Barbara  (Greecur)  Baumunk.  Having  obtained 
a practical  education  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  county,  he 
came  to  Hardin  county  in  1882,  before  attaining  his  majority,  and  has 
since  been  actively  and  prosperously  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits, 
now  having  the  entire  management  of  the  farming  property  of  his 
late  father-in-law,  Mr.  Johnson.  Mr.  Baumunk ’s  marriage  with  Mollie 
Johnson  was  solemnized  May  5,  1904.  A lively  and  interesting  member 
of  their  household  is  a grand  niece  of  Mrs.  Baumunk,  Margaret  Price, 
called  by  her  great-grandfather,  of  whom  she  was  a great  pet,  ‘ ‘ Birdie.  ’ ’ 

John  Brungard. — Widely  known  as  one  of  the  leading  grain  men 
of  Hardin  county,  John  Brungard,  in  company  with  his  brother  is  carry- 
ing on  a thriving  business,  being  owner  of  mills  and  elevators,  and  one  of 
the  largest  grain  dealers  and  shippers  of  this  part  of  the  state.  He 
was  born,  October  9,  1880,  in  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania,  a son  of  John 
and  Elizabeth  (Young)  Brungard.  A more  extended  parental  and 
ancestral  history  may  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  work,  in  connection 
with  the  sketch  of  Otis  Daniel  Brungard,  Mr.  Brungard ’s  brother. 


842 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Obtaining  a practical  education  in  the  public  schools,  John  Brun- 
gard  began  life  as  a wage  earner  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years,  being 
employed  on  a railroad  for  a time.  Coming  with  the  family  to  Ridge- 
way, he  assisted  his  father  in  the  establishment  of  the  milling  business 
with  which  he  has  since  been  actively  associated.  After  the  death  of 
his  father,  he,  in  company  with  his  brothers,  incorporated  the  milling 
interests  before  inaugurated,  and  for  two  years  thereafter  had  charge  of 
the  Horton  elevator.  He  now  resides  in  Ridgeway,  and,  with  his 
brother,  is  kept  busily  employed  in  the  management  of  their  various 
milling  and  elevator  interests,  their  business  having  assumed  large 
proportions,  being  one  of  the  most  extensive  of  its  kind  in  the  county. 
Religiously  Mr.  Brungard  is  a consistent  member  of  the  Reformed  church 
and  fraternally  he  belongs  to  Lodge  No.  588,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  at  "West 
Mansfield. 

Mr.  Brungard  married,  October  22,  1907,  Clara  May  Holmgren,  who 
was  born,  October  14,  1884,  in  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  a daughter  of  S.  H. 
Holmgren. 

J.  D.  Kennedy,  a prominent  dairy  farmer  of  Hale  township,  Hardin 
county,  was  born  on  the  farm  lie  now  occupies.  He  is  a son  of  Moses 
Kennedy,  who  was  born  in  1822,  in  Adams  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  a 
grandson  of  John  Kennedy.  The  great-great-grandfather  of  Moses 
Kennedy  came  from  Ireland  to  America,  and  married  a wife  of  German 
descent.  They  had  both  come  to  Pennsylvania  with  their  respective 
parents  and  were  there  married. 

John  Kennedy  removed  from  Pennsylvania  to  Wyandot  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  became  employed  as  a wood  chopper  near  Marseilles  and 
here  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  Moses  Kennedy  remained 
with  his  parents  until  his  marriage.  In  1843  he  settled  in  Hale  town- 
ship, Hardin  county,  buying  his  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-six 
acres  at  six  dollars  per  acre  and  here  he  followed  farming  for  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  He  was  a millwright  by  trade  and  erected  the 
first  grist  mill  in  the  township.  He  was  also  a carpenter,  and  there  are 
still  standing  many  buildings  erected  by  him.  He  died  in  1897.  He 
was  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He  was  an  influen- 
tial citizen  and  in  politics  a Republican,  being  one  of  the  oldest  com- 
missioners of  Hardin  county.  He  married  Nancy  F.  Kendrick,  a 
daughter  of  James  and  Hanna  Kendrick.  She  was  born  in  Delaware  in 
1818,  and  died  in  1892.  Moses  Kennedy  and  his  wife  had  children  as 
follows:  Emi  H.,  of  California;  Kendrick,  a farmer  of  "Wolf  Creek; 

J.  D. ; Joseph,  a farmer  of  California;  Sarah,  wife  of  James  M.  Baldwin, 
of  Kenton ; Rille,  wife  of  H.  F.  Keech,  of  Toledo ; Renah,  wife  of  F.  P. 
Allen,  of  Forest;  Maggie,  wife  of  D.  H.  Gantt,  living  with  her  brother, 
J.  D.  Kennedy ; and  three  Avho  are  deceased,  namely : Hersteram, 

Frances  and  Hannah. 

J.  D.  Kennedy  received  a common  school  education  and  helped  with 
the  work  of  the  farm  until  his  father’s  death.  He  then  purchased  the 
shares  of  the  other  heirs,  and  carries  on  general  farming,  dealing  con- 
siderably in  stock.  lie  is  an  enterprising,  prudent  farmer,  and  good 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


843 


business  man,  and  having  paid  close  attention  to  his  interests  has  been 
financially  successful.  Mr.  Kennedy  is  unmarried  and  is  doing  the  work 
of  the  farm  with  hired  helpers.  He  was  the  first  man  in  Hale  township 
to  sow  commercial  fertilizer.  He  is  a stockholder  in  the  Mt.  Victory 
Telephone  Company. 

Mr.  Kennedy  is  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and 
fraternally  he  belongs  to  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  of 
Mt.  Victory,  in  which  he  has  passed  through  the  chairs  and  served  a 
number  of  years  as  trustee  and  two  terms  as  deputy  district  grand 
master  of  Hardin  county.  Politically  he  is  a Republican,  but  has 
never  cared  for  public  office,  though  at  present  he  is  serving  as  precinct 
committeeman  of  Hale  township. 

J.  E.  Mertz,  who  is  the  owner  of  a farm  in  Roundhead  township, 
Hardin  county,  was  bgrn  in  Sidney,  Ohio,  December  27,  1854,  and  is 
a son  of  Oliver  and  Catherine  (Shafer)  Mertz.  Oliver  was  a son  of 
John  Mertz,  who  was  the  second  sheriff  of  Auglaize  county,  Ohio. 
Oliver  Mertz  and  his  wife  removed  to  Illinois  in  1864,  and  J.  E.  Mertz 
then  lived  there  with  his  parents  until  of  age. 

The  early  days  of  J.  E.  Mertz  were  spent  on  a farm  and  he  learned 
the  details  of  farming.  After  attending  the  schools  of  his  neighborhood 
and  applying  himself  well  to  the  task  of  acquiring  an  education,  Mr. 
Mertz  began  teaching,  and  continued  in  this  profession  from  1875-82, 
when  he  went  into  partnership  with  John  W.  May,  under  the  name  of 
May  & Mertz.  They  continued  in  mercantile  business  in  Roundhead 
for  a period  of  twenty-two  years,  and  the  firm  was  dissolved  March  17, 
1904.  Mr.  Mertz  now  devotes  his  time  and  attention  to  his  farming 
interests,  and  is  very  successful.  He  owns  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres 
and  is  an  energetic,  progressive  farmer.  He  is  a public-spirited  citizen, 
and  in  political  views  is  a Democrat.  He  has  served  in  various  local 
offices,  clerk,  treasurer,  etc.,  and  has  fulfilled  his  duties  in  a satisfactory 
manner.  In  his  business  dealings  Mr.  Mertz  has  always  been  honest  and 
upright,  and  his  probity  is  unquestioned.  He  is  well  known  and  popular 
in  his  community,  where  he  has  been  a resident  thirty-three  years. 

In  1880  Mr.  Mertz  married  Alice  Bowdel,  the  daughter  of  Henry  S. 
Bowdel,  and  to  them  four  children  have  been  born,  namely:  Henry  0., 
born  April  5,  1884,  graduated  from  Roundhead  high  school,  spent  two 
years  at  Ohio  Northern  University,  and  graduated  from  the  Indiana 
University  School  of  Medicine ; Gladys  E.,  graduated  from  Shortriclge 
high  school  in  Indianapolis ; Catherine,  born  July  7,  1894,  a student  in 
high  school ; and  Edwin,  born  in  1897.  Mr.  Mertz  and  his  family  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Masonic  order  being  affiliated  with  Belle  Center  Lodge,  Ada  Chapter 
and  Kenton  Commandery.  He  is  also  a member  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  in  which  he  is  a past  chancellor,  and  of  the  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America. 

Captain  Walter  Elliott. — Enterprising  and  progressive,  inherit- 
ing the  vigorous  qualities  of  heart  and  mind  that  marked  his  Scotch 


844 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


ancestors,  Captain  Walter  Elliott  is  thoroughly  identified  with  the  best 
interests  of  Hardin  county,  and  as  postmaster  at  Ada  is  widely  known. 
He  was  born,  December  16,  1867,  in  Scioto  county,  Ohio,  a son  of 
Benjamin  Elliott,  and  grandson  of  Clinton  Elliott,  a pioneer  settler  of 
Clinton  county,  this  state. 

A native  of  Clinton  county,  Ohio,  Benjamin  Elliott  succeeded  to  the 
occupation  in  which  he  was  reared,  and  was  engaged  in  general  farming 
until  his  death,  in  1872,  while  yet  in  manhood’s  prime.  His  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Storer,  is  still  a resident  of  Ohio,  her  native 
state.  Of  the  six  children  born  of  their  marriage,  three  survive.  There 
were  five  sons  and  one  daughter,  Walter,  the  subject  of  this  brief  sketch, 
being  the  fifth  child  and  the  youngest  son. 

Bnt  five  years  old  when  his  father  died,  Walter  Elliott  obtained  the 
rudiments  of  his  education  in  the  rural  schools  of  his  native  district, 
and  as  soon  as  old  enough  to  be  of  any  use  began  to  earn  his  living, 
working  in  the  woods,  the  saw  mills,  or  on  a farm.  Desirous  of  ad- 
vancing his  education  he  came  as  a young  man  to  Ada  and  by  teaching 
paid  his  way  through  the  Ohio  Northern  University,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  with  the  class  of  1897.  The  following  year  he  embarked  in 
mercantile  pursuits,  and  in  1900  he  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Ada  by 
President  McKinley,  and  served  so  faithfully  that  he  was  reappointed  to 
the  office  by  President  Roosevelt  in  1904,  and  again  reappointed  in 
January,  1909,  by  President  Roosevelt,  a record  of  service,  this  being  his 
third  term,  that  bespeaks  his  ability,  integrity,  and  efficiency.  A 
stanch  Republican  in  politics,  Mr.  Elliott  takes  an  intelligent  interest  in 
everything  pertaining  to  the  public  welfare,  and  is  now  serving  as  presi- 
dent of  the  Ada  Water  and  Light  Company.  On  June  22,  1904,  he  was 
honored  by  receiving,  from  Governor  Myron  T.  Herrick,  his  commission 
as  captain  of  Company  G,  Second  Ohio  National  Guards,  a position 
which  he  filled  with  dignity  and  credit. 

Captain  Elliott  married,  June  15,  1909,  Cecile  Longworth,  daughter 
of  Rev.  J.  M.  and  Anna  (Morgans)  Longworth,  of  Ada.  Mrs.  Elliott 
died  on  March  9,  1910.  Fraternally  the  Captain  is  a member  of  the 
Masonic  order,  belonging  to  the  blue  lodge  and  to  the  chapter,  and  also 
to  the  Sigma  Phi  Epsilon  fraternity. 

Malichi  Taylor. — In  the  death  of  Malichi  Taylor,  a young  man 
whose  brief  life  was  rich  in  promise  and  in  achievement,  Hardin  county 
lost  a citizen  of  sterling  worth  and  integrity,  and  Taylor  Creek  township 
was  deprived  of  one  of  its  most  intelligent  and  progressive  agriculturists. 
A loving  and  dutiful  son,  an  affectionate  brother,  a kind  neighbor,  and 
a most  genial  and  popular  companion,  his  death  was  a cause  of  general 
regret,  and  the  immediate  family,  especially,  were  tendered  the  sympathy 
of  the  entire  community.  He  was  born  April  7,  1879,  in  Taylor  Creek 
township,  and  there  died,  March  30,  1910,  on  the  homestead  where  his 
entire  life  had  been  passed.  He  was  of  Irish  ancestry,  his  father, 
Patrick  Taylor,  and  his  grandfather,  Joseph  Taylor,  having  been  natives 
of  the  Emerald  Isle. 

Emigrating  from  Ireland  with  his  family  in  1860,  Joseph  Taylor 
located  first  near  Belle  Center,  Logan  county,  Ohio,  where  he  was  en- 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


845 


gaged  in  farming  a few  years.  Coming  from  there  to  Hardin  county,  he 
bought  land  in  Taylor  Creek  township,  and  on  the  homestead  which  he 
improved  was  employed  in  tilling  the  soil  until  his  death.  May  2,  1872. 
He  married  Mary  Farrel,  who  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  died  on  the 
home  farm,  in  Taylor  Creek  township,  July  2,  1877.  Four  children 
blessed  their  union,  namely:  Patrick,  Joseph,  Katherine  and  Sarah. 

Born  February  23,  1848,  in  Ireland,  Patrick  Taylor  was  but  twelve 
years  old  when  he  came  with  the  family  to  Ohio.  He  received  a practi- 
cal education  in  the  district  schools,  and  under  his  father’s  instructions 
was  well  drilled  in  the  various  branches  of  agriculture.  After  the 
death  of  his  parents  he  bought  out  the  interests  of  the  remaining  heirs 
in  the  home  farm,  which  he  managed  successfully  until  his  death,  Novem- 
ber 30,  1895.  On  January  7,  1877,  he  married  Mary  Haley,  who  was 
born  in  Sandusky,  Ohio,  August  25,  1857,  a daughter  of  Malichi  and 
Johanna  (O’Connell)  Haley.  Ten  children  were  born  to  them,  namely: 
Malichi,  the  subject  of  this  brief  biographical  sketch;  Joseph  Henry,  of 
Tacoma.  Washington;  John  Patrick,  living  on  the  adjoining  farm; 
Charles  William,  residing  in  Canada;  Thomas  Franklin,  died  September 
5,  1896;  James  Robert,  died  in  infancy;  Daniel  A.,  attending  school  in 
Lima,  Ohio ; Dennis  Bertran ; Robert  Leo ; and  Mary  Agnes.  The 
mother  still  occupies  the  old  homestead,  the  younger  children  being  with 
her. 

Having  acquired  a practical  education,  Malichi  Taylor,  at  the  age  of 
sixteen  years,  left  school,  and  began  assisting  his  father  in  the  farm 
labors.  After  the  death  of  his  father,  he  remained  with  his  mother, 
brothers  and  sister  on  the  homestead,  and  was  thereafter  successfully 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  carrying  on  general  farming  the  re- 
mainder of  his  years.  He  was  specially  interested  in  stock  breeding  and 
raising,  keeping  registered  Hereford  cattle,  Poland  China  hogs,  and 
other  registered  stock.  He  was  manager,  and  one  of  the  heirs,  of  the 
parental  homestead,  and  with  his  brother  John,  had  title  to  seventy-five 
acres  of  adjoining  land.  Inheriting  the  political  and  religious  beliefs 
of  his  father,  Mr.  Taylor  was  an  active  supporter  of  the  principles  of 
the  Democratic  party,  and  a.  trustworthy  member  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
church  at  Kenton.  He  was  active  in  local  affairs,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death  was  serving  as  township  assessor. 

Patrick  E.  Travers  was  born  in  the  beautiful  “Isle  of  the  Sham- 
rock,’’ a country  noted  for  its  beautiful  scenery  and  its  hospitable  and 
loyal  people,  his  birth  occurring  in  the  county  Leitrim  in  1840.  At  the 
age  of  twenty-two  he  emigrated  to  the  United  States,  and  locating  first 
in  Wheeling,  West  Virginia,  he  learned  the  blacksmith’s  trade  and  fol- 
lowed it  for  a number  of  years.  Moving  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  in  1866, 
he  remained  here  working  at  his  trade  for  two  years,  and  in  1872  came 
from  there  to  Hardin  county  and  purchased  in  1883  his  present  home 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  acres,  afterward  clearing  this  land 
and  erecting  thereon  a beautiful  and  substantial  home  and  commodious 
and  valuable  farm  buildings. 


Vol.  11—26 


846 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Mr.  Travers  is  a son  of  Peter  and  Mary  (Kelly)  Travers,  both  of 
whom  were  born  in  county  Leitrim,  Ireland,  and  they  lived  and  died  on 
their  native  soil.  Of  the  eight  children  which  were  born  of  their  mar- 
riage union  four  came  to  the  United  States,  namely:  Delilah,  Mrs. 
IToban ; Mary,  Mrs.  Gorman ; and  John  and  Patrick  E.  Patrick  E. 
Travers  married  in  1868  Miss  Anna  Osborn,  and  they  have  become  the 
parents  of  ten  children  as  follows : Lutecia,  Gertrude,  Martin,  Anna 

(deceased),  Emmett,  Kate,  Ambrose  (deceased),  William  (deceased), 
Christine  and  Neveda.  Mrs.  Travers  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  came 
to  this  country  previous  to  her  husband.  The  family  are  members  of 
the  Roman  Catholic  church,  and  Mr.  Travers  lias  membership  relations 
with  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry.  The  following  children  are  married : 
Lutecia  is  the  wife  of  George  Hinsel;  Gertrude  married  William  J. 
Hinsel ; Martin  married  Lizzie  Ruppriglit ; Christine  is  the  wife  of 
Louis  Baker;  and  Kate  is  married  to  John  Wolgamot. 

Miles  Wilkinson  Van  Fleet,  many  years  since  deceased,  is  still 
remembered  by  many  of  his  old  friends  and  neighbors.  The  last  days 
of  his  life  were  spent  on  his  farm  in  Dudley  township,  Hardin  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  was  prominently  identified  with  the  best  interests  of  the 
community.  Mr.  Van  Fleet  was  born  near  Canandaigua,  New  York, 


JOSHUA  VAN  FLEET 

April  30,  1805,  son  of  Joshua  Van  Fleet,  a Revolutionary  soldier,  who 
also  served  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Marion 
county. 

The  founder  of  the  Van  Fleet  in  America,  Joshua  Van  Fleet, 
was  born  at  Amsterdam,  Holland,  August  13,  1764,  and  in  the  year  1776 
he  emigrated  to  America  with  his  brother  John,  serving  during  the  last 
three  years  of  the  war,  having  enlisted  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years. 
He  served  three  months,  also,  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  acquitted  himself 
creditably.  In  1785  Joshua  Van  Fleet  married  a Miss  Roberts,  whose 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


847 


father  was  also  a Revolutionary  soldier,  and  of  this  union  the  following 
children  were  horn : nine  sons  and  five  daughters,  who  settled  as  pioneers 
in  different  parts  of  the  country.  Mrs.  Van  Fleet  died  November  21, 
1813,  and  Mr.  Van  Fleet  married  (second)  January  26,  1819,  Miss 
Elizabeth  Odell,  by  whom  he  had  no  children. 

Joshua  Van  Fleet  served  as  a member  of  the  Legislature  of  the 
state  of  New  York,  and  as  county  judge,  and  was  a member  of  the  com- 
mittee that  drafted  and  reported  a bill  which  became  a law,  abolishing 
slavery  in  the  state  of  New  York.  He  served  twenty  years  in  the  legis- 
lature and  twenty-two  years  on  the  bench.  In  religious  belief  he  was  a 
Universalist  and  in  political  views  a Democrat.  In  1836  Mr.  Van  Fleet 
left  Canandaigua  and  removed  to  Big  Island,  Marion  county,  Ohio,  in 
order  to  spend  his  last  days  near  his  son  Miles,  all  his  children  having 
moved  west  prior  to  this  time.  He  died  January  8,  1848,  and  his 
remains  rest  in  the  cemetery  north  of  Big  Island. 

In  1832  Miles  Wilkinson  Van  Fleet  located  in  Dudley  township, 
Hardin  county,  Ohio,  and  at  that  time  there  were  but  two  hundred  and 
ten  inhabitants  in  the  county,  the  major  portion  of  these  being  located 
near  Roundhead  and  what  was  then  known  as  Johnstown,  now  Ada. 
There  was  then  but  one  road  in  the  county,  which  has  always  been  known 
as  the  Sandusky  road,  going  from  Sandusky  on  the  lake,  to  Springfield 
and  Dayton,  and  crossing  Hardin  county  from  northeast  to  southwest. 
Over  this  road  at  that  time  passed  all  freight  and  passenger  traffic.  Mr. 
Van  Fleet  and  his  family  suffered  the  hardships  and  privations  incident 
to  pioneer  life,  and  the  time  he  spent  in  Hardin  county  included  the 
period  when  it  passed  from  a wilderness  to  a scene  of  productive  farms 
and  comfortable  homes.  He  was  one  of  those  who  worked  so  hard  to 
make  this  change  and  development  possible,  and  was  one  of  the  first, 
citizens  in  the  county  to  urge  the  present  system  of  building  pikes  or 
macadamized  roads,  and  he  suggested  to  Benjamin  Brunson,  then  a 
member  of  the  county  board  of  commissioners,  the  plan  that  was  adopted 
by  them,  which  resulted  in  giving  Hardin  county  so  many  miles  of  most 
excellent  roads. 

When  a young  man,  Mr.  Van  Fleet  was  a warm  friend  of  Stephen  A. 
Douglas,  and  it  was  by  the  request  of  Mr.  Douglas  that  when  the  former 
came  to  Ohio  in  1832,  he  interceded  in  behalf  of  Mr.  Douglas  before  the 
school  board  of  what  was  then  the  village  of  Cleveland,  succeeding  in 
inducing  them  to  employ  him  as  superintendent  of  schools  for  a period 
of  two  years.  Upon  the  end  of  the  two  years  Mr.  Douglas  left  Cleve- 
land to  go  farther  west  and  came  to  visit  his  friend  in  his  cabin  in 
Dudley  township,  remaining  two  weeks,  then  left  for  Cincinnati,  whence 
he  went  to  Jacksonville,  Illinois,  and  thence  to  Chicago.  The  last- 
named  city,  Mr.  Douglas  prophesied  would  become  the  largest  city  in  the 
west,  if  not  in  the  whole  country.  He  often  wrote  Mr.  Van  Fleet, 
urging  him  to  sell  his  farm  in  Dudley  township  and  move  to  Chicago, 
and  there  friendly  relations  were  unshaken  up  to  the  time  of  Mr. 
Douglas’  death.  In  all  his  turbulent  and  busy  career  he  found  time  to 
write  occasional  letters  to  his  old  friend  in  Hardin  county,  whom  he 
never  forgot. 


848 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


In  1831  Mr.  Van  Fleet  married  Caroline  Knapp,  of  Canandaigua, 
and  to  this  union  two  children  were  born  : Lucy  and  Henry  T.  Henry 
T.  Van  Fleet  followed  the  profession  of  law  until  his  death,  at  Marion, 
Ohio,  in  1892,  and  Mrs.  Lucy  Bartram  Van  Fleet  is  still  living,  at 
Los  Angeles,  California.  Mrs.  Caroline  Van  Fleet  died  in  1837,  and  in 
1842  Mr.  Van  Fleet  married  Miss  Nancy  White,  by  whom  he  had  five 
children,  all  of  whom  are  deceased.  Mrs.  Nancy  Van  Fleet  died  April 
1,  1849,  and  September  10,  1851,  Mr.  Van  Fleet  married  Miss  Elizabeth 
Lester,  by  whom  he  had  nine  children,  all  of  whom  are  deceased  except 
Mrs.  C.  E.  Ridenour,  of  Denver,  Colorado,  and  John  M.,  ex-mayor  of 
Kenton.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Van  Fleet  died  December  8,  1908. 

In  religious  belief  Mr.  Van  Fleet  always  clung  to  the  doctrine  of 
Universalism,  and  in  politics  was  an  unswerving  Democrat.  However, 
although  he  was  three  different  times  tendered  the  nomination  for  state 
senator,  and  the  same  number  of  times  the  nomination  for  office  of 
county  representative,  he  always  refused,  and  his  standing  advice  to 
his  sons  was  “to  keep  out  of  politics,  except  to  use  their  influence  to 
elect  good  men  to  represent  the  people,  who  would  look  to  the  interests 
of  the  people,  regardless  of  party  interests.”  Mr.  Van  Fleet  was  highly 
esteemed  for  his  many  fine  qualities  of  mind  and  heart,  and  was  con- 
sidered a man  of  superior  intelligence  and  gifts,  who  ever  had  at  heart 
the  best  interests  of  the  community  in  which  he  lived.  This  excellent 
man  died  April  11,  1892,  at  the  age  of  eighty-seven  years,  and  his 
remains  rest  in  what  is  known  as  the  Lee  cemetery,  in  Dudley  township, 
Hardin  minty. 

William  Wolf,  a representative  German-American  farmer  of 
Goshen  township,  Hardin  county,  has  been  a resident  of  that  section  of 
Ohio  since  1866,  and  his  long  identity  with  its  substantial  interests,  as 
well  as  his  standing  in  the  community,  fully  entitle  him  to  mention  in 
this  work.  Mr.  Wolf  was  born  in  Germany  in  1842,  and  is  a son  of  John 
and  Rosella  Wolf,  both  natives  of  the  fatherland.  His  mother  spent 
her  entire  life  in  Germany,  while  the  father,  when  well  advanced  in 
years,  came  to  the  United  States  and  passed  away  in  Goshen  township 
at  the  age  of  ninety-two  years.  They  were  the  parents  of  five  children. 
The  daughter  is  deceased  and  two  of  the  sons,  Joseph  and  Frederick, 
are  still  residents  of  Germany.  William  was  reared  and  educated  in 
his  native  land,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of  a carpenter.  Emigrating 
to  the  United  States  in  1861,  after  a short  time  spent  in  New  York  city 
he  went  to  Buffalo  and  thence  to  Upper  Sandusky.  In  the  city  last 
named  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  government  as  a mechanic,  during 
the  following  three  years  being  identified  with  the  construction  of 
hospitals  and  other  United  States  buildings.  At  the  end  of  that  period 
he  became  associated  with  private  contractors  at  various  localities,  and 
in  1866  located  at  Kenton,  Hardin  county,  where  he  worked  steadily  and 
efficiently  at  his  trade  for  sixteen  years.  In  1872  he  purchased  his 
present  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  Goshen  township,  which  has  remained 
his  homestead  ever  since. 

In  1868,  two  years  after  coming  to  Hardin  county,  Mr.  Wolf 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


849 


married  Miss  Caroline,  a daughter  of  George  Pfeiffer,  and  the  fruits  of 
this  union  were  four  children,  namely:  Rudolph,  born  July  17,  1872, 
who  married  Miss  Mabel  McQuown ; Margaret,  who  was  born  April  25, 
1875,  and  is  the  wife  of  Perry  Briley;  Samuel,  born  in  1878,  who  mar- 
ried Miss  Jessie  Armstrong;  and  Mary,  born  November  8,  1879,  who  is 
now  Mrs.  Louis  Lehnhardt.  His  first  wife  having  died,  Mr.  Wolf 
married  Miss  Ella  Rader,  daughter  of  John  Rader,  their  marriage  occur- 
ring on  July  5,  1883.  Mrs.  Wolf’s  parents  died  when  she  was  eight 
years  of  age.  The  children  of  this  union  are  six  in  number,  as  follows : 
Minnie,  born  October  22,  1886,  who  is  now  Mrs.  Joe  Bookmyer;  Carl,  who 
was  born  March  26,  1888 ; Edward,  August  3,  1890 ; Louis,  December  28, 
1893 ; Laura,  August  8,  1895 ; and  Catherine,  August  2,  1896. 

George  B.  Wells. — Prominent  among  the  agriculturists  of  Hardin 
county  is  numbered  George  B.  Wells,  a prominent  and  well  known  resi- 
dent of  Liberty  township.  He  was  born  in  Franklin  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, May  12,  1864,  and  in  the  same  year  his  parents,  Elden  and  Susan 
B.  (Gossert)  Wells,  both  from  Pennsylvania,  moved  to  Ohio.  Their 
first  home  here  was  in  Seneca  county,  but  later  moving  from  there  to 
Wood  county,  Elden  Wells  bought  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
valuable  land  there,  but  eventually  sold  that  farm.  In  1864  lie  entered 
the  army  of  the  north  and  served  as  a faithful  soldier  in  the  Civil  war 
until  honorably  discharged.  Pour  children  were  born  to  Elden  and 
Susan  Wells,  namely:  Winfield  S.,  Ida  M.  and  George  B.,  twins,  and 
Victoria  E.,  but  the  last  named  is  deceased.  Mrs.  Susan  B.  Wells,  is 
also  deceased,  dying  in  1906. 

George  B.  Wells  is  now  one  of  the  most  prominent  of  the  farmers 
of  Liberty  township,  where  he  owns  and  occupies  a splendidly  improved 
estate.  He  purchased  this  farm  in  1902.  He  married  Miss  Carrie  M., 
a daughter  of  John  and  Susan  Alexander,  from  Wood  county,  Ohio. 
They  were  married  on  the  1st  of  November,  1894,  and  they  have  two 
children,  John  E.  and  Nina  M.  Mrs.  Wells  was  born  in  Wood  county, 
Ohio,  February  11,  1876,  and  was  the  younger  of  two  children,  her 
brother,  James  D.,  now  residing  in  Canton,  Ohio.  John  Alexander  died 
in  the  year  1904,  and  his  wife  Susan  passed  away  on  the  24th  of  October, 
1908.  Mr.  Wells  is  one  of  the  representative  citizens  of  Liberty  township. 

William  B.  Price,  of  the  law  firm  of  Price  Brothers,  of  Forest  and 
Kenton,  was  born  in  Forest.  He  is  a son  of  Russell  and  Addie  (Backus) 
Price,  who  were  married  June  22,  1876;  Russell  Price  was  brought  to 
Madison  county  by  his  parents  when  one  year  of  age,  and  his  wife  is 
a daughter  of  Colonel  W.  II.  Backus,  a valiant  soldier  of  the  Civil  war. 
Russell  Price’s  parents  drove  to  Kenton  in  1847,  with  a wagon,  crossing 
Scioto  river  on  a raft.  He  was  reared  and  educated  in  Kenton  and 
Patterson,  Hardin  county,  and  his  father  died  in  1855,  aged  fifty-five 
years  of  age.  Russell  Price  is  a son  of  Henry  and  Eloisa  (Corry) 
Price;  Henry  Price  brought  his  family  to  Hardin  county  in  1847,  and 
owned  two  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Pleasant  township,  besides  his 


850 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


property  in  Kenton.  He  was  a lover  of  fine  horses  and  dealt  exten- 
sively in  stock.  He  ran  a stage  between  Kenton  and  Lima,  and  did  his 
own  driving,  this  being  before  the  day  of  the  railroad.  His  children 
were:  Shelby,  who  died  in  1848;  John  C.,  formerly  sheriff  of  Union 

county,  Ohio,  and  died  in  1893;  Henrietta,  died  in  1848;  Mrs.  J.  S.  Snow; 
Robert  E.  and  Russell. 

Upon  reaching  manhood  Russell  Price  returned  to  Kenton,  where 
lie  remained  five  years  and  then  located  in  Forest.,  which  is  still  his  home. 
In  1868  he  began  the  study  of  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Ohio  bar 
August  25,  1871.  He  was  admitted  to  the  United  States  bar  February 
5,  1878.  While  living  in  Kenton  he  held  the  office  of  township  clerk, 
while  at,  Patterson  was  postmaster,  and  also  served  as  postmaster  of 
Forest  from  March,  1885,  until  July  31,  1889.  Mr.  Price  also  served 
one  term  as  mayor  of  Forest.  He  is  a member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  To  him  and  his  wife  were  born 
three  sons,  namely : Harry  B.,  superintendent  of  gold  mines  in  Central 

America;  Charles  R.  and  William  B.  Mrs.  Addie  B.  Price  died  October 
30,  1909. 

The  firm  of  Price  Brothers  is  composed  of  William  B.  and  Charles 
R.,  both  born  in  Forest,  where  they  received  their  early  education ; later 
they  entered  Ohio  Northern  University,  where  both  graduated  in  the 
literary  course,  William  B.  in  1901  and  Charles  R.  in  1903.  They  were 
graduated  from  the  law  department  of  the  same  institution,  William  B. 
in  1904  and  Charles  R.  one  year  later.  The  latter  taught  three  years 
in  the  high  school  of  Forest  ; after  his  brother  graduated  in  law  he 
entered  the  law  school  of  the  Ohio  Northern  University  from  which  he 
was  graduated,  as  above  stated.  The  firm  has  a large  practice,  not  con- 
fined to  the  state,  as  they  also  practice  in  the  United  States  courts.  Both 
are  able  members  of  their  profession,  in  which  they  stand  high.  They 
have  been  very  successful  and  have  won  fine  reputations.  Both  are 
members  of  the  Masonic  order  and  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective 
Order  of  Elks.  Charles  R.  Price  married  Louise  D.  Rese,  April  8,  1909. 

William  B.  Price  married  June  16,  1903,  Gwendoline  Cessna,  and 
to  this  union  have  been  born  three  children,  namely:  Russell,  Bradley 

and  Eloise. 

Mrs.  Joseph  M.  Dille  both  by  birth  and  marriage  is  connected  with 
the  pioneer  families  of  Hardin  county.  She  was  born  in  Logan  county, 
Ohio,  on  the  31st  of  July,  1833,  arid  her  father,  James  Smith,  a farmer 
there  for  some  years,  came  to  Hardin  county  in  1843,  establishing  the 
family  home  near  Mt.  Victory.  On  the  land  which  he  purchased  there 
was  a large  hill  which  he  sold  for  one  thousand  dollars  to  the  railroad 
company  when  it  ran  its  line,  through  his  place,  and  when  this  hill  was 
dug  up  and  the  dirt  hauled  away  many  Indians’  bones  were  found  there. 
Mr.  Dille  was  born  in  Virginia,  but  he  was  only  a boy  when  he  came 
with  his  parents  to  Ohio,  and  after  a life  devoted  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits and  saw  milling  he  died  in  the  year  1877,  when  seventy-seven 
years  of  age.  He  had  married  Mary  Taylor,  and  of  their  children  there 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


851 


are  three  daughters  and  two  sons  living : Mary,  wife  of  Rev.  T.  N. 
Barkdale,  of  Toledo ; Francis,  widow  of  John  Baldwin ; Mrs.  Joseph  M. 
Dille,  the  subject  of  this  review;  John  a real  estate  dealer  and  resident 
of  northern  Kansas ; and  Charles  a farmer  in  Hardin  county.  Three 
of  the  sons  of  this  family  were  Civil  war  soldiers,  one  having  laid  down 
his  life  on  the  altar  of  his  country  and  another  was  wounded  in  its 
service. 

Miss  Smith  in  1850  gave  her  hand  in  marriage  to  Joseph  M.  Dille, 
and  their  married  life  covered  a period  of  nearly  thirty  years,  the  hus- 
band dying  in  1879.  when  fifty-two  years  of  age.  He  was  born  in 
Richland  county,  Ohio,  a son  of  Abraham  Dille,  who  moved  there  when 
a young  man  from  Pennsylvania,  and  later  came  to  Hardin  county, 
where  he  died  in  1884,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years,  and  his  wife,  nee 
Deborah  Post,  died  at  the  age  of  sixtv-five  years.  He  was  a participant 
in  the  celebrated  Squirrel  Hunters  raid  during  the  Civil  war.  Joseph 
M.  Dille  was  but  a lad  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Hardin  county 
in  1832,  and  his  time  after  leaving  the  schoolroom  was  devoted  to  farm- 
ing and  to  the  carpenter’s  trade.  During  the  war  between  the  North 
and  the  South  he  enlisted  for  ninety  days,  and  at  the  close  of  his  term  of 
service  he  returned  to  his  home  and  to  his  former  occupations.  The 
following  children  blessed  the  marriage  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dille : 
Lafayette,  a farmer  in  Larue,  Ohio,  married  Anna  Harmon,  and  they 
have  three  children;  Clara  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Cessna,  a farmer  in 
Dudley  township,  and  they  have  one  child ; Oak,  a farmer  in  Hale  town- 
ship married  Florence  Butler,  and  they  also  have  one  child;  Effie  is  the 
wife  of  William  Eddy,  of  Kent,  and  they  have  six  children;  Fremont  is 
deceased;  Llenry,  a clerk  in  Lima,  Ohio,  married  May  Hoover  and  has 
two  children;  James  is  at  home  with  his  mother;  Edith  is  the  wife  of 
Samuel  Deardorff,  of  Bellefontaine,  and  the  mother  of  four  children ; 
and  Frank.  Mrs.  Dille  also  has  two  great-grandchildren : Alice,  a daugh- 
ter of  Jennie  Dille  Penny,  and  Pauline,  a daughter  of  Roy  Eddy  and 
a granddaughter  of  Effie  (Dille)  Eddy. 

Frank  Dille  is  with  his  mother  on  the  home  farm.  He  married 
Vesta  Morrison,  born  in  Union  county,  Ohio,  in  1879,  a daughter  of 
John  Morrison,  who  is  now  living  retired  at  Mt.  Victory,  sixty-three 
years  of  age.  Mrs.  Morrison,  nee  Drusilla  Ely.  died  in  1907,  when  sixty- 
two  years  of  age.  The  four  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dille  are  Clair. 
Dwight,  Leonora  and  Wilburt. 

James  Dille  owns  a half  interest  in  the  Dille  farm,  and  he  devotes 
his  time  and  attention  to  its  cultivation  and  improvement.  This  home- 
stead is  one  of  the  largest  and  most  valuable  estates  in  this  section  of 
Hardin  county.  James  Dille  is  a musician  of  note,  and  much  of  his 
time  since  his  boyhood’s  days  has  been  spent  in  travel,  his  wanderings 
taking  him  over  many  parts  of  the  continent. 

Michael  S.  Moon. — One  of  the  best  known  of  McDonald  township ’s 
business  men  is  Michael  S.  Moon,  who  owns  a splendid  estate  here  and 
who  has  been  identified  with  its  agricultural  life  for  many  years.  He 
was  born  in  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  December  23.  1859,  a son  of  William 


852 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


and  Maria  (Smith)  Moon  and  a grandson  on  the  paternal  side  of  John 
and  Rebecca  Moon.  The  grandparents  were  both  born  and  reared  in 
Virginia,  coming  from  there  to  Highland  county,  Ohio,  and  in  September 
of  1833  they  came  to  Hardin  county.  They  established  their  home  in 
the  township  of  McDonald  and  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives  here. 
John  Moon  died  in  the  year  1869,  owning  considerable  land  at  the  time 
of  his  death  and  he  was  considered  a very  prosperous  man.  John  and 
Rebecca  Moon  became  the  parents  of  four  children : Silas  K.  who  gave 
his  life  to  his  country’s  cause  and  died  in  Andersonville  prison;  William, 
who  was  born  in  Highland  county,  Ohio,  July  13,  1828,  served  with  the 
One  Hundred  and  Eighty-third  Ohio  Regiment  to  the  close  of  the  war ; 
Lydia,  who  died  in  Battle  Creek,  Nebraska,  the  wife  of  E.  G.  Dennis; 
and  Rebecca,  the  wife  of  John  Jefferies,  of  Michigan.  William  Moon 
married  Maria  A.  Smith,  whose  parents  were  from  Virginia,  and  in  the 
same  year  in  which  the  Moon  family  moved  from  that  state  to  Highland 
county,  Ohio,  the  Smith  family  came  to  Ross  county,  this  state,  and  the 
year  that  the  Moon  family  located  in  Hardin  county  the  Smiths  estab- 
lished their  home  in  Logan  county,  but  the  two  families  during  all  this 
time  were  unknown  to  each  other.  There  was  but  one  day’s  difference 
in  the  ages  of  William  Moon  and  Maria  Smith,  and  another  strange 
coincidence  in  their  lives  is  that  at  the  time  they  were  married  they  each 
weighed  one  hundred  and  seventy-six  pounds.  They  were  married  in 
the  year  of  1856,  and  their  four  children  are:  Sarah  E.,  the  deceased 
wife  of  Lloyd  IJoon ; Michael  S.,  of  this  review;  Eliza  V.,  who  became 
the  wife  of  Isaac  Philips  and  is  also  deceased ; and  John  W.,  whose  home 
is  in  Elkhart,  Indiana. 

Michael  S.  Moon  was  reared  on  his  parents  farm  and  received  a 
district  school  education,  and  since  old  enough  he  has  been  identified  with 
agricultural  pursuits.  He  now  owns  nearly  four  hundred  acres  of  land 
in  McDonald  township,  all  in  one  body,  and  he  is  extensively  engaged 
in  both  farming  and  stock  raising.  He  also  has  a deer  park  on  his 
farm.  Mr.  Moon  married  on  the  7th  of  June,  1885,  Ida  B.  Hoon,  who 
was  born  in  McDonald  township  October  28,  1862,  and  she  was  reared 
on  a farm  adjoining  that  of  her  husband’s  early  home.  They  have 
foiir  living  children : Grethel  F.,  a graduate  of  the  Belle  Center  high 
school  and  of  a business  school  at  Lima,  Ohio,  and  now  the  wife  of  Harry 
Noble,  of  Logan  county;  Lendel  B.,  at  home;  Zelma,  a graduate  of  the 
Belle  Center  high  school  with  the  class  of  1910;  and  Helen  M.,  a student 
in  the  Belle  Center  high  school.  A daughter,  Gladys,  died  in  April  of 
1903.  Mr.  Moon  is  in  politics  a Republican. 

Marshall  Stewart,  a successful  farmer  of  Taylor  Creek  township, 
Hardin  county,  Ohio,  pays  special  attention  to  stock  raising  and  owns  a 
large  amount  of  land.  Mr.  Stewart  was  born  near  Spring  Hill,  Logan 
county,  Ohio.  November  12,  1850,  a son  of  Samuel  and  Mary  Ann 
(Marshall)  Stewart.  Samuel  Stewart  was  a son  of  John  T.  and  Ann 
(Elder)  Stewart,  and  was  born  in  Clark  county,  Ohio,  March  26,  1823. 
When  about  twenty-six  years  of  age  he  moved  to  Green  county  and  en- 
gaged in  mercantile  business,  and  in  1860  he  located  in  Hardin  county, 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


853 


where  he  purchased  five  hundred  acres  of  land  that  was  partially  cleared. 
He  engaged  extensively  in  stock  raising,  making  a specialty  of  sheep. 
For  some  twenty  years  he  handled  more  sheep  than  any  other  man  in  the 
county,  and  wintered  from  fifteen  hundred  to  two  thousand  head  of 
them.  He  was  a man  of  superior  business  judgment  and  very  success- 
ful. He  was  for  many  years  president  of  the  Farmers  Bank  of  Rushsyl- 
vania.  Mr.  Stewart  was  a member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  and 
served  many  years  as  its  elder.  Politically  he  was  a Republican,  and 
he  served  in  several  township  offices.  In  October,  1870,  he  was  elected 
county  commissioner  for  one  term,  and  during  his  incumbency  of  this 
office  the  gravel  pikes  of  the  county  were  built.  For  thirty  years  Mr. 
Stewart  kept  a careful  diary  of  his  work  and  of  events,  which  recorded 
many  interesting  things.  In  the  fall  of  1876  he  moved  to  Kenton,  but 
two  years  later  returned  to  his  farm,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  life.  He  died  March  19,  1888,  and  his  widow  died  in  July,  1890. 
Mrs.  Stewart  was  also  a native  of  Clark  county,  Ohio,  born  June  19, 
1825,  daughter  of  William  Marshall.  Mr.  Stewart  and  his  wife  were 
married  December  12,  1841,  and  besides  Marshall  their  children  were  as 
follows:  Chase,  an  attorney  at  Springfield,  Ohio;  Ella,  wife  of  I.  W. 
Lewis,  of  Rushsylvania,  a merchant;  Mary  A.,  who  married  C.  B.  Corrv, 
and  they  live  in  Cleveland,  where  he  is  general  agent  for  an  insurance 
company;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Dr.  J.  J.  Boom,  of  Mt.  Victory;  and 
Catherine,  wife  of  R.  W.  Warmington,  a banker  of  Montreal,  Canada. 

John  T.  Stewart’s  grandfather  came  to  the  United  States  from 
Belfast,  Ireland,  in  1735,  bringing  his  wife  with  him.  John  T.  Stewart 
was  born  in  Dauphin  county,  Pennsylvania,  March  3.  1781.  and  his 
father  died  September  19,  1803.  In  1805  John  T.  Stewart  moved  with 
his  brother  to  Ohio,  where  he  purchased  five  hundred  acres  of  land, 
located  in  Clark  county.  On  March  2,  1815,  he  married  Ann,  daughter 
of  Robert  and  Ann  Elder;  she  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  May  19,  1798. 
Mr.  Stewart  died  April  16,  1850,  in  Clark  county,  and  his  widow  died 
September  24,  1880. 

After  receiving  his  education  in  the  public  school,  Marshall  Stewart 
began  helping  his  father  with  the  work  of  the  farm.  At  Samuel  Stewart’s 
death  one  thousand  acres  of  land  were  divided  among  his  children  and 
Marshall  received  the  homestead  as  his  share.  Like  his  father,  lie  has 
devoted  much  attention  to  sheep  and  has  often  kept  four  hundred  head 
through  the  winter.  He  also  has  some  fifty  head  of  cattle,  fifteen 
horses  and  about  one  hundred  hogs,  which  he  ships  to  market.  Mr. 
Stewart  is  an  enterprising  and  ambitious  man,  and  in  his  business  affairs 
has  always  shown  good  judgment  and  ability.  He  is  a man  of  sterling 
honesty  and  integrity,  and  his  high  character  is  recognized  and 
appreciated. 

In  February,  1886,  Mr.  Stewart  married  Olive  Stevenson,  who  was 
born  in  Buck  township,  Hardin  county.  May  24,  1861,  and  is  a daughter 
of  Samuel  and  Eliza  Jane  Stevenson.  Samuel  Stevenson  died  in  the 
Civil  war ; one  of  his  fingers  was  shot  off  and  blood  poisoning  resulted. 
Mr.  Stewart  and  his  wife  have  children  as  follows:  Samuel,  born 

December  3,  1886;  Thornton,  born  in  April,  1889;  Ella,  born  May  3, 


854 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


1892 ; Harold,  April  4,  1894;  and  Dorothy,  born  March  31,  1900.  Samuel 
is  now  attending  the  Ohio  State  University  at  Columbus.  Mr.  Stewart 
is  one  of  the  directors  of  the  Ridgeway  (Ohio)  Bank.  He  is  a charter 
member  of  the  County  Agricultural  Society  and  one  of  its  directors. 
He  is  a member  of  the  Elks  of  Kenton  and  politically  is  a Republican. 
He  is  actively  interested  in  public  affairs  and  has  served  as  township 
treasurer  and  trustee. 

Earl  E.  Rutledge. — Among  the  influential  and  successful  business 
men  of  Kenton,  Ohio,  is  Earl  E.  Rutledge  who  deals  in  real  estate  and 
insurance.  He  is  a native  of  Hardin  county,  having  been  born  in  Ada, 
August  13,  1874,  and  is  a son  of  George  W.  and  Susanna  (Shuler) 
Rutledge,  both  natives  of  Ohio,  the  former  born  in  Roundhead  township, 
Hardin  county,  August  16,  1851,  and  the  latter  near  Lima,  Allen  county, 
June  30,  1856.  George  W.  Rutledge  was  reared  in  his  native  county. 
He  entered  the  Northwestern  Ohio  Normal  School  at  Ada,  and  afterward 
became  connected  with  this  institution  as  a teacher.  He  was  a merchant 
in  Ada  for  a time  and  in  1880  became  connected  with  the  Hardin  County 
Republican,  being  at  one  time  sole  owner,  but  later  sold  a half  interest 
in  the  paper  to  E.  L.  Millar;  when  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  county 
auditor,  in  1884,  he  disposed  of  the  paper  altogether.  He  was  seven 
years  in  office,  being  elected  twice.  He  became  prominent  in  public 
affairs  in  Kenton,  and  served  some  time  as  a member  of  the  school  board. 
He  was  interested  in  the  Kenton  Hardware  Manufacturing  Company 
and  the  Kenton  Gas  & Electric  Company.  In  1888  he  organized  the 
Home  Savings  Building  and  Loan  Company  of  which  he  became  secre- 
tary. He  was  a Scottish  Rite  Mason  and  was  also  affiliated  with  the 
Knights  of  Pythias.  He  was  a stanch  Republican  and  active  in  the 
interests  of  the  party.  He  was  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  He  was  at  the  head  of  the  Bureau  of  Inspection  and  Supervis- 
ion of  Public  Offices  of  the  State  of  Ohio,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  January  18,  1906.  He  was  a life-long  resident  of  Hardin 
county,  and  took  great  pride  and  interest  in  its  progress  and  welfare. 

George  W.  Rutledge  was  a son  of  Lewis  and  Jane  (Tidd)  Rutledge. 
The  former  was  a native  of  Champaign  county,  Ohio,  and  the  latter  was 
the  first  white  female  child  born  in  what  is  now  Hardin  county,  Novem- 
ber 15,  1823,  her  parents  being  among  the  earliest  pioneers.  She  died 
March  17,  1873.  Lewis  Rutledge,  who  was  born  September  2,  1818, 
was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Hardin  county,  and  identified  with  the  early 
history  of  the  locality.  He  died  in  June,  1875.  He  was  a son  of  Richard 
Rutledge,  born  July  28,  1798,  died  January  12,  1875,  a native  of  Hagers- 
town, Maryland,  whose  father,  Thomas  Rutledge,  born  August  3,  1772, 
came  to  Hardin  county  in  1832,  one  of  the  original  settlers,  when  the 
county  was  included  as  a part  of  Logan  county.  Thomas  Rutledge  died 
August  30,  1846.  Thomas,  Richard,  and  Lewis  Rutledge  are  all  buried 
in  Roundhead  township.  Susanna  (Shuler)  Rutledge  was  a daughter 
of  Valentine  and  Lucy  (Strickler)  Shuler,  of  Allen  county,  Ohio.  Her 
father  died  when  she  was  but  four  days  old.  Her  mother  was  several 
years  later  married  to  William  Garretson,  of  Allen  county,  to  which 
union  was  born  one  daughter,  Della,  now  Mrs.  W.  H.  Cooper,  of  Toronto, 
Canada.  Mrs.  Rutledge  was  an  active  worker  in  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church  with  which  she  became  identified  when  a child.  She  was 
a noble  woman  and  will  long  be  remembered.  She  died  on  June  16. 


I 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


855 


1903.  George  W.  Rutledge  and  his  wife  had  four  children,  those 
besides  Earl  E.  being:  Carl  C.,  intercollegiate  secretary  of  the  Y.  M.  C. 
A.,  of  Philadelphia;  Donna  D.  and  Warren  W.,  the  two  latter  being  in 
Los  Angeles,  California.  George  AY.  Rutledge  was  again  married,  to 
Mrs.  Sallie  (McBride)  Davis,  October  26,  1905,  less  than  three  months 
prior  to  his  death.  She  survives  him  and  lives  with  her  son  Ray  Davis, 
in  Columbus,  Ohio. 

Earl  E.  Rutledge  is  the  oldest  child,  and  the  only  one  now  living  in 
Hardin  county.  He  was  six  years  old  at  the  time  his  parents  located  in 
Kenton,  and  there  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools.  He 
graduated  from  high  school  in  1893,  and  attended  Eastman  Business 
College  of  Poughkeepsie,  New  York,  graduating  from  same  in  June, 
1894.  He  became  associated  with  his  father  in  the  insurance  business 
in  August  of  that  same  year,  and  continued  in  this  business  until 
November  1,  1906,  when  he  sold  a half  interest  to  E.  A.  Loop,  of  Craw- 
fordsville,  Indiana.  February  1,  1909.  Mr.  Rutledge  bought  him  out 
and  sold  a half  interest  to  E.  C.  Sells,  the  firm  now  being  Rutledge  & 
Sells,  doing  a flourishing  business  in  general  insurance  and  real  estate. 
Both  members  of  the  firm  are  wide-awake,  enterprising  business  men, 
with  keen  insight  and  good  principles,  and  the  affairs  of  the  concern  are 
in  promising  condition.  Mr.  Rutledge  was  inspector  of  public  accounts 
under  the  Bureau  of  Inspection  and  Supervision  of  Public  Offices,  hold- 
ing this  office  from  December,  1906,  until  February,  1909. 

April  27,  1899,  Earl  E.  Rutledge  married  Eda  M.  Stahl  a daughter 
of  G.  A.  and  Elizabeth  (Fink)  Stahl.  G.  A.  Stahl,  who  was  born 
September  12.  1843,  is  a native  of  Esslingen,  Wertemburg,  Germany, 
Elizabeth  (Fink)  Stahl  who  was  born  June  30,  1842,  is  a native  of 
Hardin  county.  Her  father  was  Benedict  Fink,  a native  of  Berne, 
Switzerland,  and  one  of  the  '"frarly  pioneers  of  Hardin  county.  Eda 
hi.  Stahl  was  born  May  26,  1873,  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  Mr.  Rutledge 
and  his  wife  have  one  child  living,  a son,  Edwin  Stahl,  born  September 
10,  1903.  Three  children  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Rutledge  is  a member  of  the  Masonic  order,  being  a Knight 
Templar,  and  he  is  also  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  He 
belongs  to  the  Church  of  Christ.  He  is  secretary  of  The  Kenton  Gas 
& Electric  Company,  and  is  a director  of  The  Home  Savings  & Loan 
Company.  He  is  well  known  throughout  Hardin  county,  where  his 
entire  life  has  been  spent,  and  is  highly  respected,  having  a multitude  of 
friends.  He  is  actively  interested  in  public  affairs,  and  politically 
supports  the  cause  of  the  Republican  party.  He  was  chairman  of  the 
Hardin  County  Republican  Central  Committee  for  two  years,  and  was 
recently  selected  as  chairman  of  the  Republican  Executive  Committee. 

AVilliam  Dible,  a prominent  and  successful  farmer  of  Taylor  Creek 
township,  Hardin  county,  was  born  near  Tiffin,  Ohio,  March  10,  1846, 
and  is  a son  of  Frederick  and  Eureka  Dible.  both  natives  of  Prussia. 
Frederick  Dible  emigrated  to  America  with  his  family  in  1836,  and 
became  one  of  the  first  pioneers  of  AVvandot  county.  He  wras  a black- 
smith by  trade  and  worked  many  years  near  Tiffin.  He  died  at  Spring- 
ville,  Ohio,  at  the  age  of  fifty-four  years,  and  his  widow  died  in  1894, 
at  the  age  of  fifty-four  years.  He  was  one  of  eight  children.  He  and 
his  wife  were  members  of  the  German  Lutheran  church.  They  had 
children  as  follows:  AYilliam;  Henry,  a farmer  in  Kansas;  Ferdinand, 
a farmer  of  Seneca  county,  Ohio ; Napoleon,  a farmer  of  Ohio ; and  two 
daughters  who  are  deceased. 


856 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


After  reaching  the  age  of  eighteen  years  William  Dible  cared  for 
his  mother  and  followed  farming  until  her  death.  He  worked  for 
others  four  years  and  then  for  five  years  rented  a farm.  After  living 
two  years  on  a farm  near  Kenton  he  then  located  in  that  City  and  spent 
two  years  teaming  and  two  years  working  in  a factory.  However,  he 
preferred  farming  and  for  three  years  rented  the  Spensler  farm.  In 
1890  Mr.  Dible  purchased  his  present  farm  of  forty-two  acres,  where  he 
made  a specialty  of  high-bred  horses.  He  has  been  very  successful  as 
a farmer  and  is  now  able  to  retire  from  the  more  active  labor,  though 
he  still  resides  on  his  farm.  He  is  a member  of  the  local  Grange  and 
is  well  known  in  the  community.  He  has  many  friends  and  has  a repu- 
tation for  honesty  and  industry.  Politically  he  is  a Republican,  though 
he  takes  no  active  part  in  local  affairs. 

Mr.  Dible  married  Martha  Jane  Smalley,  who  was  born  in  Hancock 
county,  daughter  of  George  and  Magdalena  (Reinhart)  Smalley;  she 
died  in  1907,  at  the  age  of  fifty-five  years.  Mr.  Smalley  was  a farmer 
and  spent  his  entire  life  in  Hancock  county.  Mr.  Dible  and  his  wife 
became  the  parents  of  children  as  follows : Lemuel  C.,  of  Kenton,  Ohio, 
now  thirty-six  years  of  age,  married  Mary  Roberts,  and  they  have  one 
child ; Ferdinand  Edward,  of  Taylor  Creek  township,  married  a Miss 
Wilcox,  and  they  have  three  children ; Clarence,  of  Kenton,  married 
Maude  Lane,  and  they  have  one  child ; Mary  Alta ; Lola  Bell,  who  married 
John  Bortsch,  of  Kenton,  and  they  have  one  child ; and  Virgil  Carlin, 
at  home  with  his  father. 

Darius  M.  Sieg. — One  of  the  prosperous  young  stock  farmers  of 
Hardin  county,  Ohio,  is  Darius  M.  Sieg,  who  lives  in  the  brick  house 
built  by  his  grandfather,  Jacob  Sieg.  Mr.  Sieg  was  born  on  the  farm 
where  he  now  lives,  March  22,  1884,  and  is  a son  of  Paul  K.  and  Marga- 
ret Evans.  Paul  Sieg  was  born  in  Augusta  county,  Virginia,  June  5, 
1818,  and  died  March  27,  1884.  He  came  to  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  with 
his  father  when  fifteen  years  of  age.  His  father,  Jacob  Sieg,  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania,  May  29,  1784,  and  died  in  Hardin  county,  January 
26,  1855.  He  settled  on  the  farm  that  is  still  in  the  family,  and  built 
a log  cabin  in  the  woods.  He  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  here. 
He  had  two  sons,  Jonathan  and  Paul,  both  teachers.  Jonathan  was  the 
first  teacher  in  Taylor  Creek  township.  Jacob  Sieg  moved  to  West 
Liberty,  Ohio,  in  1828,  and  from  there  to  Hardin  county  in  1839.  He 
built  on  his  homestead  the  fine  brick  house  that  is  still  standing,  and 
manufactured  the  brick  for  the  same.  This  is  the  oldest  and  largest 
building  of  the  kind  in  the  section  of  Ohio  where  it  is  located.  He  mar- 
ried Lydia  Haines  May  3,  1810 ; she  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  January 
8,  1793,  and  died  January  15,  1878. 

Paul  K.  Sieg  remained  at  home  with  his  parents  and  helped  carry 
on  the  farm,  and  at  the  death  of  his  father  he  managed  the  home  farm 
until  his  own  demise.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneer  members  of  the  St. 
Paul  Methodist  church,  and  was  elected  its  steward  in  1856,  serving 
until  his  death.  He  was  elected  a justice  of  the  peace  in  1852,  served 
six  years  as  township  trustee,  and  for  twenty-seven  years  acted  as  town- 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


857 


ship  treasurer.  He  was  also  a member  of  the  Agricultural  Board  at 
its  organization.  Mr.  Sieg  was  married.  October  10,  1841,  to  Rebecca 
Van  Meter,  who  was  born  June  18,  1816,  and  died  in  October,  1852. 
Of  this  union  five  children  were  born,  the  only  one  living  being  Lavinia, 

wife  of  H.  C.  Collett,  of  Ansonia,  Ohio.  Mr.  Sieg  married  on  April  7, 

1854,  Margaret  McBeth,  who  died  December  5,  1857.  Two  children 
were  born  to  this  union,  both  of  whom  are  deceased.  Mr.  Sieg  married 
for  his  third  wife,  March  27,  1859,  Margaret  E.  Evans,  born  February 
24,  1839.  She  is  a daughter  of  David  and  Lovina  (Price)  Evans  of 
Delaware  county,  Ohio.  David  Evans  came  to  the  United  States  from 
Wales,  with  his  parents  when  four  years  old.  He  was  a son  of  Thomas 
and  Elizabeth  Evans,  who  were  farmers  and  settled  first  at  Gallipolis 
and  later  in  Delaware  county.  In  1853  David  Evans  moved  to  Hardin 
county  and  located  in  Buck  township,  where  he  died.  He  was  born 
June  5,  1818,  and  died  in  1884,  and  his  wife  died  in  1890.  Mrs.  Sieg 

lives  with  her  son,  Darius  M.,  on  the  old  homestead.  She  has  twenty- 

three  grandchildren.  Her  children  who  survive  are  as  follows:  Henry, 
a farmer  of  Cessna  township;  Robert  E.,  of  Richwood,  Ohio;  Lovina, 
wife  of  William  Cook,  of  Buck  township;  Jacob,  a farmer,  living  near 
Mt.  Victory;  David,  of  Hale  township;  John,  a farmer,  of  Taylor  Creek 
township ; Mary,  at  home ; Paul  K.,  a farmer  of  Buck  Creek  township ; 
and  Darius,  the  youngest  child. 

After  attending  the  public  school  until  fifteen  years  of  age  Darius 
M.  Sieg  attended  Ada  University  three  terms  and  then  settled  down  to 
farming  and  stock  raising  on  the  home  farm,  where  most  of  his  life  has 
been  spent.  He  makes  a specialty  of  sheep,  hogs  and  cattle,  and  is 
very  successful  in  this  line.  Tie  is  an  industrious  and  enterprising 
young  farmer,  and  his  management  of  the  farm  is  able  and  thorough. 
He  is  a member  of  the  Methodist  church  and  politically  is  a Republican, 
being  at  present  a member  of  the  school  board. 

In  1908  Mr.  Sieg  married  Elizabeth  Moser,  born  June  11,  1882, 
daughter  of  J.  H.  Moser,  who  died  in  1895.  He  was  a native  of  Switzer- 
land, where  Mrs.  Sieg  was  born,  and  married  Elizabeth  Bassiger,  who 
survives  him.  He  brought  his  family  direct  to  Kenton,  Ohio.  In  his 
native  country  he  worked  at  blacksmithing  and  iron  furnace  manufac- 
turing. He  and  his  wife  had  children  as  follows : Adolph,  of  Xenia, 
Ohio;  Rose,  wife  of  E.  Born,  of  Kenton;  Freda,  a teacher,  living  in 
Kenton ; Anna,  John  11.  and  Minnie,  at  home ; Katherine  and  Carl, 
twins ; and  Helen,  now  deceased.  Mr.  Sieg  and  his  wife  have  one  child, 
Richard  Moser,  born  November  6,  1909. 

Charles  H.  Rickets,  a successful  baker  of  Mt.  Victory,  Ohio,  was 
born  in  Logan  county,  March  8,  1871,  and  is  a son  of  William  A.  Rick- 
etts a native  of  the  city  of  New  York,  a son  of  George  Ricketts  of  New 
York  state.  William  A.  Ricketts  came  with  his  parents  to  Ohio  before 
the  Civil  war,  and  they  settled  in  Logan  county.  His  father,  after  the 
death  of  his  wife,  moved  to  Lima,  Ohio,  where  he  died  in  1887,  at  the  age 
of  eighty-eight,  years. 

William  A.  Ricketts  was  a carpenter  and  cabinet-maker,  having 


858 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


learned  the  trade  at  Bellefontaine,  Ohio ; he  spent  two  years  working 
at  his  trade  at  Toledo,  and  in  1861  he  enlisted  in  the  Thirteenth  Ohio, 
serving  four  years  and  nine  months.  He  participated  in  many  of  the 
important  battles  of  the  war  and  at  its  close  married  Mary  Jane  Wheeler, 
who  is  now  sixty-six  years  of  age.  She  is  a daughter  of  Robert  and 
Jane  Wheeler,  of  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Ricketts  still  follows  his  trade 
at  Bellefontaine,  Ohio,  and  has  now  reached  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years. 
Besides  Charles  H.  he  had  children  as  follows : Lyda,  Eddie,  Addie, 
Bertha,  Margaret,  George,  Robert  and  John. 

The  education  of  Charles  H.  Ricketts  was  acquired  in  the  public 
schools  and  he  lived  on  his  father’s  farm  until  twenty-one  years  of  age. 
He  then  learned  the  trade  of  baker  at  Bellefontaine,  and  worked  at 
same  there  until  1902,  then  removed  to  Van  Wert,  and  for  one  year  was 
engaged  in  the  bakery  and  confectionery  business.  He  sold  out  and  re- 
turned to  Bellefontaine,  where  for  three  years  he  was  employed  as  fore- 
man by  the  Richter  Baking  Company.  In  1908  he  located  in  Mt. 
Victory  to  take  charge  of  the  present  bakery.  He  is  thorough  master 
of  his  trade  and  has  won  a reputation  for  fine  work  in  his  line. 

Mr.  Ricketts  married  Fannie  A.  Longfellow  who  was  born  February 
16,  1870,  daughter  of  Rev.  J.  M.  Longfellow  a Methodist  Episcopal  pas- 
tor at  Bellefontaine.  His  wife,  Hannah  J.  (Hartley)  Longfellow,  died 
in  1905,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years,  and  he  is  now  eighty-two. 
Mr.  Ricketts  and  his  wife  became  parents  of  children  as  follows:  Mary, 
aged  sixteen,  wife  of  Charles  Palmer,  of  North  Dakota ; Bernice,  aged 
fourteen,  attending  school;  Van  Arthur,  aged  twelve;  Miles,  aged  six; 
and  Byron,  aged  two  years.  In  his  business  relations  Mr.  Ricketts  has 
always  shown  a strict  adherence  to  the  highest  principles,  and  he  has 
won  his  success  in  life  through  his  own  efforts.  He  has  always  paid 
close  attention  to  his  work  and  financial  interests,  and  has  good  business 
judgment.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. 

Mrs.  Nancy  (Norman)  Bailey,  who  lives  on  her  farm  in  Taylor 
Creek  township,  Hardin  county,  has  been  a resident  of  the  county  sine*3 
childhood.  She  was  born  in  Jefferson  county,  Ohio,  February  13,  1832, 
a daughter  of  James  and  Mary  (Brown)  Norman,  the  former  of  Vir- 
ginia, Mr.  Norman  came  to  Taylor  Creek  township  when  his  daughter 
was  eleven  years  of  age.  The  family  came  by  wagon  and  had  two  yoke 
of  oxen  for  making  the  trip.  They  stopped  on  their  way  at  Wheeler’s 
Tavern,  on  the  Sandusky  Road,  also  at  Furney’s  Tavern  in  Kenton. 
They  located  opposite  the  present  home  of  Mrs.  Bailey  and  took  up 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres  of  land,  there  being  then  but  one 
house  between  their  farm  and  Kenton, — the  Scott  house.  Their  first 
home  was  a hewed  log  affair,  and  at  the  raising  of  the  house  little  Nancy 
did  all  the  cooking,  providing  food  for  all  who  attended,  though  she  was 
then  only  eleven  years  old.  Mrs.  Norman  died  in  1869.  Mrs.  Bailey  is 
the  only  survivor  of  the  family  of  five  children.  James  Norman  was 
a son  of  Henry  and  Nancy  (Knotts)  Norman. 

Nancy  Norman  spent  her  girlhood  on  a farm  and  in  1849  she 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


859 


married  Silas  Bailey,  who  was  born  in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  in  1824,  a 
son  of  William  and  Mary  (Olcott)  Bailey,  who  married  in  1817.  Wil- 
liam Bailey  was  born  in  Martinsburg,  Virginia,  and  moved  to  Hardin 
county  in  1827 ; he  died  December  6.  1853.  After  their  marriage  Mr. 
Bailey  and  his  wife  lived  some  time  in  a small  cabin  on  the  Norman 
place,  and  in  1868  came  to  what  is  the  present  family  homestead.  They 
began  housekeeping  there  in  a small  log  cabin  which  is  now  in  the  rear 
of  the  pleasant,  modern  farm  house.  Mr.  Bailey  was  a successful  far- 
mer and  stock  raiser  and  an  enterprising,  progressive  citizen,  who  was 
actively  interested  in  public  affairs  and  in  every  good  cause.  He  en- 
listed in  the  Union  army  in  1864,  serving  until  the  end  of  the  war,  in 
Company  B,  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-ninth  Regiment,  Ohio  Volunteer 
Infantry.  He  died  March  10,  1882,  and  his  loss  was  mourned  by  a 
large  circle  of  friends.  He  and  his  wife  became  the  parents  of  children 
as  follows:  Nathaniel,  deceased;  Jonathan,  a farmer  of  Buck  township, 
married  Sarah  Frey;  Martha,  wife  of  W.  Bailey,  had  one  child,  Cora, 
who  married  W.  Short,  and  she  is  deceased ; Fletcher,  of  Goshen  town- 
ship, married  Ida  Kelley,  and  they  have  three  children;  B.  Wells,  mar- 
ried J oan  Newell  and  lives  in  Georgia ; Curtis,  living  at  home,  married 
Ada  Stevenson,  and  they  have  one  child,  Martha  and  Curtis  both  live 
with  their  mother  and  care  for  her  interests.  Mrs.  Bailey  is  well  known 
in  the  community,  having  spent  so  large  a part  of  her  life  in  the  township, 
and  has  a large  circle  of  friends.  She  is  blessed  with  good  health  and 
after  a life  of  industry  and  toil  enjoys  a well-earned  rest.  She  is  a 
member  of  the  Disciples  church. 

George  Elmer  Mitchell,  a prominent  farmer  and  a justice  of  the 
peace  of  Taylor  Creek  township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  is  a native  of 
Franklin  county,  Ohio,  born  July  13,  1861.  He  is  a son  of  Charles 
and  Nancy  M.  (Drake)  Mitchell,  both  natives  of  Ohio,  the  former  born 
in  Franklin  county  and  the  latter  in  the  southern  part  of  the  state. 
Charles  Mitchell  died  hi  1898,  at  the  age  of  sixty-four  years.  He  was  a 
son  of  Hugh  Mitchell,  a native  of  Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania, 
who  moved  with  his  parents  to  Dublin,  Ohio,  where  they  bought  a piece 
of  land  with  the  expectation  that  the  state  capital  would  be  located  there. 
Hugh  Mitchell  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  in  this  vicinity  and  died 
in  1862,  at  the  age  of  sixty  years. 

After  attending  the  district  school  until  a young  man  Charles 
Mitchell  helped  his  father  with  the  work  of  the  farm  and  remained  with 
his  parents  until  after  his  marriage,  when  he  rented  a farm  and  also 
worked  by  the  day.  In  1867  he  moved  to  Hardin  county  and  remained 
in  Lynn  township  until  his  death,  which  took  place  in  1898.  In  May, 
1864,  Mr.  Mitchell  enlisted  in  the  Union  army  for  one  luuidred  days’ 
service,  in  Company  K,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-third  Ohio  National 
Guard,  and  was  discharged  in  September  of  the  same  year.  He  was  a 
Republican  in  his  political  views,  and  for  several  terms  served  as  town- 
ship clerk ; he  also  served  as  a justice  of  the  peace.  He  married  Nancy 
M.  Drake,  daughter  of  James  H.  and  Caroline  (Marshall)  Drake,  the 
former  a United  Brethren  minister  from  southern  Ohio.  Charles 


860 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Mitchell  and  his  wife  had  children  as  follows:  Gleorge  E. ; Clementine, 

wife  of  William  Burger,  of  Kenton;  Auta,  living  with  her  mother  at 
Kenton ; Lester,  a farmer ; Caroline,  wife  of  Gilbert  Hamilton  and  lives 
in  Columbus : Beecher,  living  on  the  home  farm ; Emma,  wife  of  R. 
W.  Longbrake;  and  Elsoda,  wife  of  James  B.  Mitchell  of  Altoona, 
Pennsylvania. 

George  E.  Mitchell  attended  the  country  schools  and  received  a 
fair  education.  He  remained  with  his  parents  until  his  marriage  in 
1888,  and  then  began  farming  for  himself.  Politically  he  is  a Republi- 
can, and  is  active  in  the  interests  of  the  party.  He  has  been  a member 
of  the  school  board  and  township  clerk,  besides  holding  other  township 
offices.  In  1896  Mr.  Mitchell  was  elected  a justice  of  the  peace  and  in 
1910  he  was  again  elected  to  this  responsible  office.  He  served  fen 
years  as  a member  of  the  state  militia,  and  while  belonging  to  this 
organization  attended  the  funeral  of  the  martyred  Garfield,  at  Cleveland, 
being  part  of  the  guard  on  duty.  He  was  also  at  the  Cincinnati  riots. 
Mr.  Mitchell  has  the  full  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens  and 
makes  a good  public  official.  He  gives  the  affairs  of  the  public  the  same 
thoughtful  and  careful  consideration  he  does  his  own  private  affairs,  and 
is  popular  with  all  parties. 

Mr.  Mitchell  married  Minnie  M.  Richards,  who  was  born  March  4, 
1872,  daughter  of  Ira  C.  Richards,  a veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  who  has 
now  attained  the  age  of  sixty- five  years.  Mr.  Richards  is  a retired 

farmer  and  Methodist  Episcopal  preacher.  He  is  a native  of  Hardin 

county  and  son  of  Leonard  Richards,  who  came  to  Hardin  county  from 
Ross  county,  Ohio,  and  was  a Methodist  preacher,  as  was  also  his 
father,  James.  Ira  C.  Richards  married  Bethany  Evans,  who  has  now 
reached  the  age  of  sixty-seven  years.  She  is  a daughter  of  David  and 
Lavina  (Price)  Evans.  Mr.  Mitchell  and  his  wife  have  had  children 
as  follows : Bessie,  born  in  1889,  a graduate  of  the  Kenton  high  school 
and  now  living  in  Kenton ; Ira,  born  in  1892,  at  home ; Wilbur,  born  in 
1896,  attending  school;  Avice,  born  in  1899;  Dora,  born  in  1902;  DeArlo, 
born  in  1905 ; Earnestine,  born  in  1907 ; Margaret,  born  in  1909 ; and 
three  deceased,  Ernest,  Theresa  and  Everett. 

Otis  Marion  Hopkins. — Among  the  most  enterprising  and  suc- 
cessful farmers  and  stockmen  of  Taylor  Creek  township,  Hardin  county, 
is  Otis  M.  Hopkins,  who  was  born  on  the  farm  where  he  still  resides 
December  12,  1865,  a son  of  Marion  and  Elmira  (Bailey)  Hopkins.  His 
great-grandfather,  Archibald  Hopkins,  was  born  in  1791,  and  died 
August  15,  1879.  He  married  Jemimah  Gosley,  who  died  January  14, 
1834.  Their  son  Robert,  born  July  3,  1820,  died  March  30,  1877.  He 
married  Sallie  Robertson,  who  was  born  October  28,  1819,  and  died 
March  15,  1884.  Their  son  Marion  was  born  in  Logan  county,  Ohio, 
in  1842,  and  in  1850  moved  with  his  parents  to  the  present  family  home- 
stead, where  they  took  up  a homestead  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres 
of  Woodland.  They  erected  a log  house  and  spent  the  remainder  of 
their  lives  on  this  farm. 

Marion  Hopkins  remained  with  his  parents  as  a young  man,  teach- 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


861 


ing  school  winters  and  helping  with  the  farm  work  summers.  He 
enlisted  in  Company  O,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-fifth  Ohio  Volunteer 
Infantry,  serving  until  the  close  of  the  war.  After  returning  home  he 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  farming,  and  died  November  28,  1870,  of 
sickness  contracted  during  the  military  service.  He  was  a Republican 
in  political  views  and  held  many  townships  offices.  His  wife  was  horn 
September  26,  1841,  and  died  August  1,  1867.  She  was  a daughter  of 
Silas  and  Harriet  (Stevenson)  Bailey,  of  this  community. 

The  only  child  of  Marion  Hopkins  and  his  wife  now  surviving  is 
Otis  M.,  the  subject  of  this  biography.  He  received  his  education  in 
the  common  schools.  He  was  a small  boy  when  his  mother  died,  and 
only  four  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  the  death  of  his  father.  He  was 
reared-  by  his  grandparents  and  they  died  before  he  was  eighteen  years 
of  age.  He  is  now  owner  of  the  family  homestead  and  carries  on 
farming  and  stock  raising  with  excellent  success.  Mr.  Hopkins  is  a 
prominent  and  influential  citizen  and  actively  interested  in  public 
affairs.  He  is  a stanch  Republican  and  has  rendered  valuable  service 
in  the  interests  of  his  party.  He  has  held  various  public  offices  and 
discharged  his  duties  in  a manner  that  was  highly  satisfactory  and  proved 
his  ability  and  good  judgment.  Mr.  Hopkins  served  three  terms  as 
township  clerk,  two  terms  as  county  infirmary  director,  and  has  also 
acted  as  delegate  to  state  and  congressional  conventions.  He  is  well 
known  and  popular  in  the  community  and  has  many  friends.  He 
belongs  to  the  United  Presbyterian  church  of  Silver  Creek,  to  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  of  Kenton  and  also  to  the  Elks  at 
Kenton. 

On  June  1,  1887,  Mr.  Hopkins  married  Maggie  J.  Stevenson,  daugh- 
ter of  Homer  and  Mary  Ann  (Hullinger)  Stevenson,  who  are  given 
more  extensive  mention  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Mrs.  Stevenson  is  a 
widow  and  resides  on  her  farm  in  Taylor  Creek  township.  Mrs. 
Hopkins  was  born  April  11,  1865.  She  is  also  a member  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  church,  and  is  active  in  the  work  of  the  missionary  society 
and  other  church  work. 

John  M.  Fisher,  a retired  farmer  and  stock  dealer  of  Taylor  Creek 
township,  was  born  in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  January  31.  1843,  a son  of 
John  H.  and  Elizabeth  (Marshall)  Fisher.  John  H.  Fisher  was  a 
native  of  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  born  in  1808,  and  he  moved 
to  Stark  county,  Ohio,  when  a young  man.  He  returned  to  his  native 
state,  where  he  was  married,  and  later  removed  to  Logan  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  took  up  forty-five  acres  of  land  in  the  timber.  He  built  a 
cabin  and  improved  his  land,  spending  the  remainder  of  his  life  on  this 
farm;  he  added  more  land  from  time  to  time  and  at  his  death,  in  1874. 
owned  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres.  In  early  life  he  Avas  a 
Presbyterian,  but  as  there  was  no  organization  of  that  denomination  in 
the  neighborhood  where  he  lived  he  finally  joined  the  Christian  church. 
Mrs.  Fisher  Avas  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1807,  and 
was  a daughter  of  Conrad  Marshall;  she  died  in  1875.  Besides  John 
M.  they  had  another  son,  Conrad  N.  Fisher,  M.  D.,  of  Rushsylvania, 
Ohio. 


Vol.  11—37 


862 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


After  attending  the  local  schools  and  securing  a good  education 
John  M.  Fisher  helped  his  father  on  the  farm  and  at  the  same  time 
taught  four  terms  during  the  Civil  war.  He  remained  with  his  parents 
until  1873,  then  moved  to  Hardin  county,  where  he  first  purchased  one 
hundred  acres  of  land,  where  he  now  lives.  Later  he  added  one  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  more,  and  still  later  added  more  land  until  he  now 
owns  three  hundred  acres.  A large  part  of  his  land  was  in  the  swamp, 
but  he  has  made  all  modern  improvements  and  has  his  land  in  a high 
state  of  cultivation.  He  has  erected  a comfortable  home  and  is  very 
successful  in  his  enterprise.  He  is  engaged  extensively  in  stock  raising 
also  and  feeds  a number  of  cattle  each  winter.  He  ships  to  market  in 
carload  lots.  For  two  years  from  1880  he  was  in  partnership  with 
William  Callahan,  of  Logan  county,  and  they  shipped  extensively.  Later 
he  engaged  in  partnership  with  Marshall  Stewart,  shipping  stock  and 
buying  wool.  He  has  carried  on  business  in  this  line  for  fifteen  years 
in  Hardin  county. 

Some  years  ago  Mr.  Fisher  located  in  Kenton,  and  there  continued 
dealing  in  stock,  but  six  years  later  he  returned  to  his  farm,  where  he 
now  lives.  He  has  retired  from  active  business  life,  but  keeps  well 
informed  as  to  his  business  interests.  He  is  one  of  the  most  successful 
and  influential  citizens  of  the  county,  and  his  reputation  as  a stock  and 
wool  dealer  has  traveled  over  a wide  territory.  Politically  he  is  a 
Democrat,  and  he  served  two  terms  as  township  trustee.  He  is  well 
known  in  the  community  and  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  public  spirited, 
representative  men  of  the  county. 

In  1865  Mr.  Fisher  married  Anna  E.  Musselman,  born  July  22, 
1846,  in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  a daughter  of  Jerome  and  Elizabeth 
(Ansley)  Musselman.  Her  father  was  born  and  reared  in  Virginia 
and  came  to  Ohio  with  his  parents,  Michael  and  Ann  (Coover)  Mussel- 
man. Mrs.  Fisher’s  father  died  in  1903  and  her  mother  in  1874.  She 
was  a daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth  Ansley.  Besides  Mrs.  Fisher 
they  had  children  as  follows:  Mary,  wife  of  Thomas  Kautzman,  of 

Indiana ; Leah,  widow  of  L.  Carson,  of  Marion,  Ohio ; Gfeorgie,  wife  of 
E.  E.  Wickersham,  of  Logan  county,  Ohio ; and  Lucian,  a farmer  of 
Taylor  Creek  township.  Mr.  Fisher  and  his  wife  became  the  parents 
of  children  as  follows : Louis  N.  who  married  Myrtle  Collins ; Willis, 

on  the  home  farm,  married  Eva  Swallow,  daughter  of  John  and  Harriet 
(Copp)  Swallow,  of  Kenton,  and  they  have  three  children,  Hazel,  Mabel, 
and  Mary;  Charles  E.,  living  in  the  west,  married  Mary  Williams,  and 
they  have  two  children,  Ralph  and  Evangeline;  Mary  Elizabeth  mar- 
ried Marshall  Porter,  an  undertaker  of  Kenton,  and  they  have  one  child, 
Emerson ; Claude,  living  in  the  west,  married  Mary  Carr,  and  they  have 
one  child,  Francis;  Hattie  married  G.  A.  Vincent,  a merchant  of  Hiram, 
Portage  county,  and  they  have  one  child,  Myron.  Mrs.  Fisher  is  a 
member  of  the  Disciples  church  of  Kenton,  and  is  an  active  worker  in 
the  Ladies’  Aid  Society.  Mr.  Fisher  has  gained  success  in  life  mainly 
through  his  own  efforts.  He  is  a keen  business  man  of  sound  judgment, 
and  has  made  the  most  of  his  opportunities.  He  still  owns  the  family 
homestead  where  he  was  born,  in  Logan  county. 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


863 


Hon.  Frank  B.  Willis. — Talented  and  cultured,  of  broad  and  pro- 
gressive views,  Hon.  Frank  B.  Willis,  of  Ada,  teacher  of  Law  and 
Economics  at  the  Ohio  Northern  University,  has  long  been  a conspicuous 
figure  in  educational  circles,  and  is  also  widely  known  in  the  political 
world.  His  literary  and  scholastic  attainments  have  obtained  wide 
recognition,  and  he  has  won  a far  more  than  local  reputation,  not  only 
as  an  able  and  popular  instructor,  a brilliant  and  forcible  lecturer,  but  as 
a leader  in  the  Republican  ranks,  and  as  an  earnest  champion  of  needed 
reformatory  measures.  A native  of  Ohio,  he  was  born.  December  28, 
1871,  in  Lewis  Center,  Delaware  county,  a son  of  J.  B.  Willis.  He  is 
of  substantial  New  England  ancestry,  his  grandfather,  Buckley  H. 
Willis,  having  been  a.  resident  of  Vermont,  while  his  great-grandfather, 
enlisting  from  Massachusetts,  served  as  a soldier  in  the  war  of  1812. 

Although  born  and  bred  in  the  Green  Mountain  state,  J.  B.  Willis 
has  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life  in  Delaware  county,  Ohio,  being  now 
one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  Galena,  and  an  influential  member  of  the 
Republican  party.  Inheriting  the  spirit  of  patriotism  that  inspired 
his  ancestors,  he  volunteered  in  defence  of  his  country  in  1862,  and  served 
bravely  in  the  Civil  war.  He  married,  in  1857,  Lavina  Buell,  and  to 
them  three  children  were  born,  as  follows:  Lloyd  M.,  of  Chicago, 

Illinois;  Buell  B.,  a prosperous  agriculturist;  and  Frank  B.,  with  whom 
this  sketch  is  chiefly  concerned. 

Laying  a substantial  foundation  for  his  future  education  in  the 
district  schools  of  his  native  county,  Frank  B.  Willis  subsequently 
attended  the  Galena  high  school,  where  he  won  an  excellent  record  for 
scholarship.  Entering  the  Ohio  Northern  University  in  1890,  he  was 
graduated  from  that  institution  with  the  class  of  1893,  and  immediately 
accepted  the  professorship  of  the  chair  of  Political  Economy,  Civil 
Government  and  United  States  History.  A diligent  and  persistent 
student,  with  a natural  taste  and  talent  for  legal  study  and  work.  Pro- 
fessor Willis  was  admitted  to  the  Ohio  bar  in  1906,  and  is  now  teaching 
Law  and  Economics  in  the  College  of  Law,  of  the  Ohio  Northern 
University. 

Throughout  his  useful  career  as  an  educator  Mr.  Willis  has  met 
with  distinguished  success.  Since  1900  he  has  been  actively  engaged  for 
six  or  more  weeks  each  year  as  a lecturer  before  Teachers’  Institutes, 
his  work  in  that  direction  covering  twenty-five  Ohio  counties,  and  nearly 
as  many  in  Pennsylvania ; in  the  summer  of  1910  several  counties  in 
Ohio  and  also  in  Indiana,  receiving  the  advantage  and  benefit  of  his 
lectures  on  American  History  and  Civics. 

With  patriotism  as  a virtue  and  an  inheritance,  Professor  Willis 
has  kept  in  touch  with  the  polities  of  county,  state  and  nation  since  early 
manhood,  and  in  1894  made  his  first  appearance  as  a political  speaker. 
In  1896  he  stumped  the  state  in  behalf  of  McKinley’s  election  to  the 
presidency,  and  in  1899  he  was  elected  to  the  General  Assembly  from 
Hardin  county,  and  served  his  fellow  citizens  to  such  good  purpose  that 
he  was  reelected  to  the  same  office  in  1901.  this  time  his  previous  good 
majority  of  votes  being  largely  increased.  During  his  later  term  in  the 
House,  he  was  chairman  of  the  committee  on  insurance,  and  a member  of 


864 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


the  committee  on  taxation,  and  took  an  active  part  in  all  debates  on  tax- 
reform  measures.  He  was  also  vice  chairman,  or  chairman  pro  tern, 
of  the  House  Committee  of  twenty-three  chosen  to  formulate  a municipal 
code  for  the  government  of  Ohio.  Through  the  administration  of  the 
Willis  Law,  of  which  he  was  the  framer,  the  state  treasury  is  richer  by 
far  than  it  otherwise  would  be,  while  the  revenues  produced  by  its  enact- 
ment have  made  it  possible  to  reduce  the  taxes  of  the  farmer  and  the 
home  owner. 

A candidate  for  congressional  honors  in  1904,  Professor  Willis  was 
defeated  in  a long  drawn  out  convention,  famous  in  the  history  of  the 
eighth  district,  his  opponent  being  Hon.  Ralph  D.  Cole,  for  whom  he 
afterwards  took  the  stump,  working  vigorously  for  his,  and  for  the 
Republican  party’s  success.  Again  a candidate  for  congress  in  1908, 
the  professor  was  again  defeated  after  some  eleven  hundred  ballots  in 
the  two  spectacular  and  exciting  conventions  at  Marysville  and  Kenton. 
In  1910  he  was  again  a candidate  for  congress  on  the  Republican  ticket 
at  the  primary. 

Since  entering  politics,  Mr.  Willis  has  been  a simon  pure  Republi- 
can and  is  of  that  thorough  kind  known  as  progressive.  He  is  a supporter 
and  admirer  of  President  Taft,  whom  he  holds  to  be  a great  constructive 
statesman  and  an  executive  doing  his  best  for  his  country.  On  the 
tariff  question.  Professor  Willis  adheres  to  the  pledge  which  says:  “In 
all  tariff  legislation  the  true  principle  of  protection  is  best  maintained 
by  the  imposition  of  such  duties  as  will  equalize  the  difference  between 
cost  of  production  at  home  and  abroad  together  with  a reasonable  profit 
to  American  industries.  ’ ’ On  the  wool  question,  his  attitude  is  one  that 
is  satisfactory  to  the  growers  of  the  district.  There  are  various  reasons 
for  the  wool  growers’  confidence:  Mr.  Willis  became  an  advocate  of 

wool  protection,  when  as  a boy  he  heard  Major  McKinley  speak  on  the 
question;  all  of  the  Willis  people  on  “both  sides  of  the  house”  have 
been  wool-growers  and  dealers,  Mr.  Willis’s  father  having  been  for  years 
one  of  the  prominent  sheep  men  of  the  county  and  an  uncle  was  the  origi- 
nal Merino  sheep  man  of  Delaware  county.  Being  the  son  of  an  old 
soldier,  Mr.  Willis  has  always  been  the  eloquent  champion  of  the  rights 
of  war  veterans  and  is  an  associate  member  of  Ada  Post  of  the  G.  A.  R,. 
The  Willis  Guards  of  that  town  was  named  in  his  honor  because  of  his 
work  and  interest  in  the  cause  of  patriotism. 

Mr.  Willis  is  an  active  supporter  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  and  other  young 
peoples’  societies,  and  on  the  platform  of  religious  organizations  he  is 
a familiar,  popular  and  eloquent  speaker,  his,  often  times  impromptu 
addresses  being  full  of  courage,  good  cheer  and  inspiration  to  his  hearers. 
In  an  informal  talk  to  the  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Brotherhood 
at  Kenton,  in  the  summer  of  1907,  he  expressed  a strong  belief  in  the 
theory  that  right  shall  conquer,  and  made  a plea  for  right  living  and 
right  thinking  in  our  daily  walks  of  life. 

Professor  Willis  married,  in  1894,  Allie  Dustin,  a daughter  of 
John  and  Hannah  Dustin,  of  Galena,  Ohio,  and  they  have  one  child, 
Helen  Willis. 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


865 


Horace  E.  Sponsler. — Prominent  among  the  extensive  land  owners 
and  progressive  agriculturists  of  Hardin  county  is  Horace  E.  Spons- 
ler, proprietor  of  one  of  the  most  attractive  and  valuable  estates  in 
McDonald  township.  A native  of  Hardin  county,  he  was  born  August 
13,  1854,  in  Taylor  Creek  township,  a son  of  Jacob  Sponsler. 

Jacob  Sponsler  was  born  and  brought  up  in  Pennsylvania,  and  there 
married  Margaret  Slonaker,  also  a Pennsylvanian  by  birth.  Migrating 
to  Hardin  county,  he  bought  a tract  of  wild  land  in  Taylor  Creek  town- 
ship, and  from  the  dense  forest  cleared  and  improved  a homestead. 
The  Sponsler  family  has  ever  been  distinguished  for  its  patriotism  and 
loyalty  to  country,  three  of  its  members  serving  in  the  Civil  war, 
George  in  the  Artillery,  Winfield  B.  in  the  Infantry,  while  Alvin  served 
for  more  that  three  years  in  the  Eleventh  Ohio  Volunteer  Cavalry. 

Horace  E.  Sponsler  received  his  early  education  in  the  district 
schools  of  his  native  township,  and  on  the  home  farm  was  well  trained 
in  the  various  branches  of  agriculture.  Finding  the  occupation  of 
farming  both  pleasant  and  profitable,  he  decided  to  make  it  his  life 
work,  and  began  his  operations  by  purchasing  fifty  acres  of  land  in 
Taylor  Creek  township,  to  which  he  subsequently  added  by  purchasing 
eighty-five  acres  of  adjoining  land.  At  the  end  of  four  years  he  sold  out 
at  an  advantage,  and  bought  one  hundred  and  eighty-seven  acres  of  the 
land  now  included  in  his  present  farm,  in  McDonald  township.  Suc- 
cessful in  his  undertakings,  Mr.  Sponsler  has  added  to  the  size  of  his 
farm,  which  now  contains  three  hundred  and  fifteen  acres  as  fine  farming 
land  as  can  be  found  in  this  part  of  Hardin  county.  He  has  made  im- 
provements of  an  excellent  character,  and  is  carrying  on  general  farm- 
ing with  most  satisfactory  results,  and,  with  his  son,  who  assists  him, 
owns  and  manages  a threshing  outfit.  Since  becoming  of  age,  Mr.  Spons- 
ler has  supported  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party  by  voice  and 
vote,  but  has  never  had  official  aspirations. 

On  July  29,  1884,  Mr.  Sponsler  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mar- 
garet Jane  Carson,  a daughter  of  William  S.  and  Jane  Carson,  of 
Kenton.  William  Edwin  Sponsler,  the  only  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Sponsler,  was  born  August  11,  1885,  and  has  always  lived  with  his 
parents,  assisting  in  the  management  of  the  farm.  He  married  Bessie 
C.  Claypool,  and  they  have  one  child,  Margaret  Alice,  born  May  14, 
1907. 

General  David  Thomson. — A man  of  whom  all  Hardin  county  felt 
justly  proud  during  life  and  whose  memory  is  held  in  tender  reverence 
today  is  General  David  Thomson,  who  left  in  his  war  record  a noble 
legacy  not  only  to  his  family  but  to  the  people  of  his  county  and  state. 
He  died  at  his  residence  in  Kenton,  Ohio,  in  which  he  had  lived  many 
years,  February  2,  1893.  General  Thomson  was  a native  of  Ohio,  born 
in  Marion  county,  April  27,  1823.  He  married  Miss  Margaret  Espy, 
a native  of  Philadelphia  and  became  a resident  of  Hardin  county  in 
1849.  He  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law,  and  continued  in  this  occupa- 
tion until  the  beginning  of  the  Civil  war.  In  his  service  in  behalf  of 
his  country  he  distinguished  himself  so  that  the  expression  was  often 


866 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


made  “Never  did  a braver  man  wear  shoe  leather.”  His  record  began 
with  the  formation  of  Company  A of  the  Eighty-second  Ohio,  of  which 
he  was  chosen  captain.  He  was  soon  afterward  appointed  major  of  the 
regiment  and  after  the  battle  of  Bull  Run  he  was  made  lieutenant- 
colonel.  March  13,  1865,  he  was  made  a brigadier  general,  for  “gallant 
and  meritorious  service  during  the  war.  ” He  had  many  narrow  escapes 
and  figured  as  a hero  in  sixteen  battles.  At  Peach  Tree  Creek  his  life 
was  saved  by  his  pocket-knife,  which  was  shattered  to  pieces.  He  made 
a fine  record  at  the  most  important  battle  of  Gettysburg,  where  a horse 
was  shot  from  under  him.  His  heroic  conduct  at  this  battle  was  testi- 
fied by  a magnificent  sword  which  was  presented  to  him  by  the  Eighty- 
second,  and  on  it  was  this  inscription:  “Presented  to  Colonel  David 
Thomson  by  the  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates  of  the  Eighty- 
second  regiment  as  a token  of  their  appreciation  of  his  noble  conduct 
at  Gettysburg,  July  1,  2,  and  3,  1863.”  He  never  fully  recovered  from 
the  severe  wounds  he  recived  at  the  battle  of  Averysboro. 

Among  the  battles  in  which  he  participated  were : Cedar  Mountain, 
Bull  Run,  Wauhatchie  Valley,  Resaca,  Culp’s  Farm,  Nancy  Creek,  Peach 
Tree  Creek,  Savannah  and  Averysboro,  in  all  of  which  he  commanded 
the  brave  boys  of  the  Eighty-second.  He  was  wounded  at  Dallas,  and 
during  the  siege  of  Atlanta  he  commanded  the  regiment,  when  they 
were  under  fire  continuously  from  June  29  to  August  25. 

General  Thomson  was  a man  to  whom  his  friends  gave  their  warm- 
est affection  and  confidence.  He  was  a pleasant  and  friendly  companion, 
being  most  refined  in  his  tastes  and  fond  of  the  finer  things  of  life, 
He  was  entertaining  in  conversation,  being  full  of  general  information, 
and  was  most  highly  esteemed  by  his  comrades  in  arms,  as  well  as  by 
all  who  came  to  know  and  appreciate  his  high  character  and  blameless 
life.  As  an  amateur  artist  of  landscape  painting,  he  possessed  unusual 
ability. 

In  the  Masonic  Order,  as  in  all  other  places  where  he  met  with  his 
fellows,  General  Thomson  was  highly  regarded.  He  was  initiated  into 
Latham  Lodge  No.  154  F.  & A.  M.,  in  November,  1853,  and  in  December, 
1857,  was  elected  Worshipful  Master,  being  re-elected  the  following  year 
and  again  in  1865.  He  was  a charter  member  of  Scioto  Chapter  R.  A. 
M.  and  was  appointed  its  first  High  Priest.  The  following  year  (1870) 
he  was  elected  to  the  same  office,  under  the  charter,  and  was  reelected 
in  1871.  He  was  buried  with  high  Masonic  honors  as  well  as  high 
Military  honors  and  his  funeral  was  one  of  the  largest  that  ever  took 
place  in  the  community. 

General  Thomson’s  wife  died  in  1888.  There  remained  of  the 
family  after  his  death  two  children:  Metullis  and  Mary;  Metullis  and 
his  wife  Bessie,  who  was  a daughter  of  General  Moses  B.  Walker,  removed 
with  their  family  from  Ohio  a few  years  after  the  death  of  General 
Thomson  and  now  reside  in  Minneapolis,  Minnesota.  Their  family 
numbers  four,  three  sons  and  one  daughter,  named  respectively : Theo- 
dore Walker,  Margaret  Mary,  Metullis,  and  Willis  Irving.  With  Mr. 
Metullis  Thomson  and  his  family,  also  resides  Mary,  the  unmarried 
daughter  of  General  David  Thomson. 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


867 


Mrs.  Sarah  Simpson,  of  Mount  Victory,  Ohio,  widow  of  William 
Simpson,  who  died  May  7,  1883,  was  born  July  8,  1835.  William  Simp- 
son was  born  in  Licking  county,  Ohio,  and  was  a son  of  Solomon  and 
Ellen  Simpson,  who  came  from  Licking  county  to  Hardin  county.  They 
were  among  the  earliest  settlers  of  the  latter  county,  and  were  very 
strong  Methodists.  William  Simpson  was  reared  on  a farm,  and  lived 
with  his  parents  until  the  time  of  his  marriage,  when  he  rented  a farm 
for  himself.  In  1865  he  removed  to  Mount  Victory  and  there  purchased 
a home.  He  was  engaged  in  railroad  work,  and  was  one  of  the  builders 
of  the  railroad  now  known  as  the  “Big  Four.”  Later  he  engaged  in 
cutting  and  hauling  timber  which  he  continued  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

William  Simpson  enlisted  in  Company  I,  One  Hundred  Thirty- 
second  Ohio  National  Guard,  December  15,  1864,  and  was  discharged 
after  serving  one  hundred  days.  He  was  the  victim  of  sunstroke  while 
on  guard  duty,  and  never  recovered  from  the  effects.  He  was  an  active 
member  of  the  Methodist  church,  and  took  great  interest  in  public 
affairs.  He  was  well  known  and  highly  respected  in  the  community, 
and  his  loss  was  widely  felt.  He  was  a man  of  undoubted  integrity,  and 
greatly  esteemed  for  his  high  character  and  pleasant,  friendly  manner. 

Mr.  Simpson’s  parents,  Davis  and  Susan  (Iiann)  Crane,  were  farm- 
ers, and  came  to  Ohio  from  New  Jersey,  settling  in  Logan  county.  They 
were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  Mr.  Simpson  and  his  wife 
became  the  parents  of  children  as  follows : David  Edgar,  Mack,  Amanda 
and  Ruth.  David  E.,  a merchant  of  Mount  Victory,  married  Ida  Frey, 
and  they  have  one  child,  Rose.  Mack,  a farmer  of  Hale  township,  Hardin 
county,  married  Susan  Allen,  and  they  have  one  child.  Amanda,  wife 
of  Ham  Cramer,  a farmer  of  Hale  township,  has  two  children.  Ruth 
married  Clint  Bird,  also  a farmer  in  Hale  township. 

William  Simpson  has  three  brothers  surviving,  namely:  Sam,  retired 
and  living  in  West  Mansfield;  David,  a farmer  of  West  Mansfield; 
and  Sylvester. 

Frank  S.  Chapman,  the  introduction  of  the  telephone  system  has, 
doubtless,  been  of  more  practical  value  to  the  residents  of  Hardin 
county  than  any  other  enterprise  here  established,  not  even  excepting 
rural  free  delivery,  which  has  been  of  inestimable  value  to  the  farmer, 
bringing  the  people  in  close  communication  with  the  events  of  the  day, 
facilitating  the  business  movements  of  the  immediate  neighborhood,  the 
town,  county,  state,  and  even  more  remote  parts  of  the  Union.  Actively 
identified  with  the  success  of  this  system  is  Frank  S.  Chapman,  the  well- 
known  manager  of  the  Kenton  Home  Telephone  Company,  at  Kenton. 
A son  of  Wilson  IT.  Chapman,  he  was  born,  December  15,  1871,  in  Seneca 
township,  Lenawee  comity,  Michigan. 

Wilson  H.  Chapman,  a native  of  Ashland  county,  Ohio,  was  brought 
up  on  a farm,  and  early  became  familiar  with  agricultural  pursuits. 
When  ready  to  begin  life  for  himself  he  moved  to  Lenawee  county 
Michigan,  where  he  purchased  two  farms,  one  lying  in  Seneca  township, 
the  other  being  situated  just  across  the  state  line,  in  Ohio.  After  farm- 
ing there  a few  years,  he  moved,  in  1876,  to  Morenc-i,  Michigan,  which 


868 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


was  home  for  about,  twenty  years.  Settling  then  in  Wayne  county, 
Michigan,  lie  resided  there  until  his  death,  in  1907.  He  married  Sarah 
G.  Fink,  who  was  born  in  Franklin  county,  Pennsylvania,  a daughter 
of  John  Fink,  and  she  is  still  living  in  Wayne  county,  Michigan. 
Six  children  were  born  of  their  union,  namely:  Emma  Frantz,  Louis, 

William  W.,  Fred  A.,  Frank,  and  Vernon  A. 

Having  completed  the  studies  in  the  public  schools  of  Morenci, 
Michigan,  Frank  S.  Chapman  attended  the  Toledo  high  school,  acquiring 
a substantial  education.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  years  began  learning 
telegraphy,  the  following  three  years  being  in  the  employ  of  the  Wheel- 
ing & Lake  Erie  Railroad  Company  as  a telegraph  operator.  He  was 
then  made  train  despatcher,  first  at  Jewell,  Ohio,  and  later  at  Massillon. 
During  that  time  Mr.  Chapman  studied  chemistry,  electricity  and  steno- 
graphy, but  the  close  attention  to  study  and  business  impaired  his 
health,  and  in  189.5  he  resigned  his  position  with  the  railroad  company, 
Going  then  to  Toledo,  Ohio,  lie  was  for  four  months  inspector  for  the 
Central  Union  Telephone  Company  of  that  city,  and  subsequently  had 
charge  for  two  years  of  the  Company’s  offices  in  Elkhart  and  Goshen, 
Indiana.  Accepting  then  a position  with  the  Bell  Telephone  Company, 
Mr.  Chapman  was  manager  of  its  Kenton  office  until  1903.  Then,  for 
nine  months,  he  managed  the  Shelby  office  for  the  Shelby  Telephone 
Company.  Resigning  that  position,  he  became  manager  of  the  Kenton 
Home  Telephone  Company,  which  under  his  efficient  management  is 
carrying  on  a profitable  business,  and  rendering  to  its  numerous  patrons 
most  satisfactory  service. 

Mr.  Chapman  married  in  June,  1903,  Maude  Furney.  She  was  born 
in  Kenton,  a daughter  of  Melvus  and  Almina  Furney,  and  grand- 
daughter of  Colonel  Furney,  of  whom  a brief  biographical  sketch  may 
be  found  on  another  page  of  this  work.  Fraternally  Mr.  Chapman  is  a 
member  of  Aminta  Lodge  No.  79,  I.  0.  O.  F.  of  Scioto  Encampment, 
No.  179;  of  Kenton  Canton,  No.  83,  of  which  he  is  a patriarch  militant; 
and  of  Latham  Lodge,  No.  154,  F.  & A.  M.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chapman 
belong  to  the  Daughters  of  Rebekah,  and  to  Rispah  Chapter,  No.  53,  O. 
E.  S.,  of  Shelby. 

J.  Edson  Gordon. — During  many  years  the  name  of  J.  Edson  Gor- 
don was  interwoven  with  the  history  of  the  educational  interests  of  Mt. 
Victory,  an  educator  of  well  known  ability.  He  was  born  near  West 
Mansfield  in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  on  March  22,  1858,  a son  of  John  E. 
and  Barbara  E.  (Keller)  Gordon,  and  a grandson  on  the  maternal  side 
of  Frederick  and  Rebecca  Keller,  who  came  from  Virginia  to  Ohio  about 
the  year  1820.  John  E.  Gordon  was  born  in  Loudon  county,  Virginia, 
in  1831,  and  he  came  with  his  parents,  John  Woodford  and  Elizabeth 
Gordon,  to  Ohio  in  1835,  living  successively  in  Adams  and  Highland 
counties,  and  later  near  West  Mansfield  in  Logan  county,  his  death  oc- 
curring at  the  latter  place  in  1899,  and  his  wife  Barbara  had  died  at 
their  country  home  there  in  1882.  John  Woodford  Gordon,  born  in 

Wales  in  1797,  died  in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  in  1867.  J.  Edson  Gordon 
was  the  second  of  the  ten  children  born  to  John  E.  and  Barbara  Gordon, 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


869 


two  of  his  sisters  dying  in  infancy  and  two  after  attaining  the  age  of 
young  womanhood,  while  six  of  the  family,  a sister  and  five  brothers,  are 
yet  living,  namely:  J.  Edson,  of  Mt.  Victory;  John  E.,  living  at  West 
Mansfield;  Ransom  D.  and  Robert  F.,  both  of  Bowling  Green;  Charles 
A.,  of  Union  county;  and  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Barber,  who  resides  with  her 
family  on  the  old  homestead  near  West  Mansfield. 

J.  Edson  Gordon  spent  the  first  seventeen  years  of  his  life  on  the 
parental  homestead,  attending  meanwhile  the  country  schools,  and  at  the 
age  of  seventeen  he  entered  upon  his  career  as  an  educator,  teaching 
in  the  country  schools  of  Logan  and  Union  counties.  After  a time  he 
entered  Ridgeville  College  at  Ridgeville,  Indiana,  later  passing  to  the 
Ohio  Normal  University  at  Ada,  Ohio,  and  he  completed  his  training  at 
the  Champion  City  Commercial  College  at  Springfield.  Followng  this 
splendid  college  training  Mr.  Gordon  served  seven  years  as  superinten- 
dent of  the  public  schools  of  West  Mansfield  and  thirteen  years  in  the 
same  capacity  in  the  schools  of  Mt.  Victory,  where  he  yet  resides. 

He  was  married  in  1885  to  Miss  Nora  A.  Saylor,  from  New  Carlisle, 
Ohio,  and  she  is  yet  a primary  teacher  in  the  Mt.  Victory  public  schools. 
Their  family  consists  of  a daughter  Imogene,  a teacher  in  the  public 
schools  of  Alger,  Ohio ; a son  Chester  S.,  a student  in  the  Ohio  State 
University  at  Columbus;  and  Louva  E.,  who  is  with  her  parents  at  Mt. 
Victory.  Mr.  Gordon  during  the  past  six  years  has  been  a member  of 
the  Hardin  county  board  of  school  examiners,  and  he  still  retains  his 
interest  in  educational  affairs  although  he  is  not  at  present  engaged  in 
school  work. 

Albert  Grant  Willauer.  the  enterprising  manager  of  the  lumber 
company  at  Mt.  Victory,  is  a native  of  that  town,  born  December  11, 
1881,  son  of  Theodore  Willauer,  now  aged  fifty-nine  years,  and  Nancy 
(Latimer)  Willauer,  now  fifty-six  years  of  age.  Besides  Albert  G. 
they  had  children  as  follows:  Essie,  operator  at  Mt,  Victory;  John,  of 

Mt.  Victory,  a timber  buyer;  Edward,  an  electrician;  Roy,  an  operator; 
Frank,  a lineman;  Willis,  a clerk;  Fannie,  a clerk;  and  Helen,  living  at 
home. 

Albert  G.  Willauer  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools,  and 
at  the  age  of  sixteen  years  took  up  the  trade  of  carpenter,  which  he  con- 
tinued until  1905,  when  he  became  manager  of  the  present  lumber  com- 
pany of  Mt,  Victory.  They  are  doing  a prosperous  business,  and  are 
established  on  a firm  foundation. 

Mr.  Willauer  is  actively  interested  in  public  affairs,  politically  is  a 
Democrat,  and  is  at  present  serving  as  a member  of  the  city  council. 
He  is  a public-spirited  citizen,  well  known  and  highly  respected.  Mr. 
Willauer  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  of  Mt.  Victory,  and  to  the  Elks  of  Kenton,  Ohio. 

January  20,  1902,  Mr.  Willauer  married  Anna,  daughter  of  Milton 
and  Lydia  Jane  (Riley)  Mills,  born  December  21,  1882,  in  Marion 
county,  Ohio.  Milton  Mills  was  born  September  10,  1850.  in  Marion 
county,  Ohio.  His  wife,  a daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Powell) 
Riley,  died  in  1905,  at  the  age  of  fifty-two  years.  William  Riley  was  a 


870 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


pioneer  of  Marion  county,  and  now  lives  at  Larue,  Ohio,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-six  years.  Milton  Mills  is  a house  mover  and  lives  with  his  wife 
at  Larue;  he  is  a son  of  Hiram  Mills,  born  February  8,  1822,  and  married 
Ann  Lake,  who  died  in  1856,  aged  thirty-seven  years.  Hiram  Mills  is  a 
carpenter  by  trade,  and  is  a son  of  Richard  Mills,  born  in  New  Jersey,  in 
1791.  Richard  Mills  married  Julia  Wells,  and  they  came  to  Marion 
county  in  1822 ; their  son  Hiram  was  the  first  white  child  born  in  the 
county.  When  they  settled  first  in  Marion  county  Tom  Lyons  was  the 
head  medicine  man  among  the  Wyandot  tribe  of  Indians,  still  living 
there. 

Milton  Mills  and  his  wife  had  children  as  follows:  Anna;  William, 
a horse  dealer  of  Marion,  Ohio;  Ida,  wife  of  E.  J.  Davis;  Ottie,  wife  of 
M.  M.  Pierce,  lumber  dealer,  of  Columbus,  Ohio ; and  Bessie,  living  at 
home.  Mrs.  Willauer  graduated  at  Larue  in  1900,  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
years.  She  is  a member  of  the  Methodist  church,  the  Pythian  Sisters 
of  Mt.  Victory,  holding  the  office  of  Protector,  and  also  belongs  to  the 
Rebekah  Lodge  of  Mt.  Victory.  Mr.  Willauer  and  his  wife  have  one 
daughter,  Ruth  Ellen,  born  September  30,  1903. 

Philip  A.  Brielmaier,  one  of  the  agriculturists  of  Lynn  township, 
was  born  in  Kenton,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  April  1,  1877,  a son  of  Philip 
and  Margaret  (Biehle)  Brielmaier,  the  father  born  in  Swatzwalt,  Ger- 
many, and  the  mother  in  Springfield,  Ohio.  Philip  Brielmaier  came 
to  the  United  States  when  thirteen  years  of  age,  and  locating  in  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio,  he  grew  to  mature  years  there,  and  later  spent  a short  time 
in  Covington,  Kentucky.  The  Biehle  family  had  in  the  meantime 
located  in  Cincinnati,  and  it  was  at  White  Oak  in  Hamilton  county  that 
the  young  couple  became  acquainted  and  were  married.  They  continued 
to  live  there  until  going  to  Pickaway,  Ohio,  and  later  they  came  to 
Kenton,  where  the  husband  and  father  died  in  1900,  being  still  survived 
by  his  widow. 

Philip  A.  Brielmaier  attended  the  parochial  schools  near  his  boy- 
hood’s home  until  he  was  twelve  years  old,  and  since  then  he  has  given 
his  entire  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits,  being  now  one  of  the  leading- 
farmers  and  stock  raisers  of  Lynn  township.  He  married  Marie 
DeRaad,  who  was  born  in  Iowa.  Her  parents  died  during  her  infancy, 
and  going  to  Nebraska  she  was  there  married  to  Mr.  Brielmaier  on  the 
15th  of  July,  1906,  and  their  two  children  are  Margaret  B.  and  Freder- 
ick, born  respectively  on  the  7th  of  March,  1908,  and  on  the  3d  of 
October,  1909.  The  family  are  members  of  the  Catholic  church  at 
Kenton,  and  in  politics  Mr.  Brielmaier  affiliates  with  the  Democratic 
party. 

Charles  Vermillion  has  the  distinction  of  being  the  oldest  business 
man  in  point  of  years  of  continuous  service  in  West  Foraker.  He 
located  in  Foraker  in  1898,  and  in  the  same  year  opened  a general 
mercantile  store,  and  he  is  also  engaged  in  the  handling  of  coal.  He 
owns  all  of  his  own  buildings,  and  is  conducting  a prosperous  and  remun- 
erative business. 


I 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


871 


Mr.  Vermillion  was  born  in  Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  November  6, 
1846,  a son  of  William  and  Mary  (McLain)  Vermillion.  When  their 
son  Charles  was  but  a year  old  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vermillion  moved  to 
Virginia,  but  after  a short  time  in  that  state  they  returned  to  Ohio  and 
located  in  Guernsey  county,  which  remained  their  home  for  several  years. 
From  there  they  finally  came  to  Licking  county,  and  in  1880  to  Hardin 
county,  where  William  Vermillion  passed  away  in  death  in  1908,  dying 
in  the  city  of  Kenton.  Charles  Vermillion,  the  son,  was  reared  as  a 
farmer  lad,  but  later  he  learned  the  trade  of  a wagon  and  carriage 
maker  and  followed  those  trades  for  twenty-five  years  at  Kirkersville, 
owning  his  own  plant.  In  1873  he  was  married  to  Jane  Fairchild,  and 
a son,  Carl,  was  born  to  them  on  the  9th  of  August,  1877.  He  is  a 
graduate  of  telegraphy  at  the  Northern  Indiana  Normal  University  at 
Valparaiso,  and  is  the  present  operator  at  Foraker.  He  married  Ida 
Page,  and  they  have  two  children.  Mr.  Charles  Vermillion  is  allied 
with  the  Democrats  in  politics,  and  during  two  years  lie  was  the  assessor 
of  Cessna  township. 

Jesse  Shark. — One  of  the  substantial  and  successful  farmers  of 
Dudley  township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  is  Jesse  Shark,  who  is  now  re- 
tired from  active  business  life,  though  he  still  resides  on  his  fine  farm. 
Mr.  Shark  was  born  in  AVest  Virginia,  October  14,  1825,  and  is  a son  of 
Jonathan  and  Betsey  (Edgar)  Shark,  the  former  of  whom,  a native  of 
Virginia,  died  in  1853.  He  removed  to  Union  county,  Ohio,  about  1825, 
settling  near  Peoria,  where  he  took  up  a farm,  and  later  moved  to  a farm 
near  Somerville,  where  he  remained  about  ten  years,  and  after  the  death 
of  his  wife,  in  1836,  he  discontinued  keeping  house. 

After  the  death  of  his  mother  Jesse  Shark  remained  with  his  father, 
and  received  his  education  in  Ohio,  although  he  attended  school  but 
little.  He  was  one  of  ten  children,  and  has  two  sisters  living: 
Clarissy,  wife  of  A1  Brown,  a farmer,  and  Charlotte,  wife  of  Sam  Walker 
of  Kenton. 

Mr.  Shark  early  learned  to  look  out  for  himself,  and  when  a boy 
began  work  for  the  meager  sum  of  two  dollars  per  month  and  his  board. 
In  1862  he  settled  down  to  farming  on  his  own  account.  He  worked 
eighteen  years  for  one  man,  then  farmed  two  years  in  Madison  county, 
returned  to  his  old  employer  for  a time,  and  then  bought  a farm  which 
he  farmed  ten  years. 

Mr.  Shark  enlisted  in  the  army  for  service  during  the  Civil  war,  in 
Company  B,  Eighth  Ohio,  and  later  transferred  to  the  Fourth  Ohio,  at 
Cold  Harbor.  He  fought  under  Grant  and  Hancock,  serving  until  the 
end  of  the  war.  He  stood  guard  at  his  post  at  the  time  General  Lee 
surrendered,  and  his  regiment  was  the  first  in  the  capital.  Several 
times  he  was  slightly  wounded,  and  he  was  mustered  oi;t,  in  July,  1865. 
He  returned  home  and  four  years  later  located  in  Hardin  county;  in 
1885  he  settled  on  his  present  homestead,  and  he  has  one  of  the  finest 
farm  houses  in  his  section  of  the  county.  Politically  he  is  a Republican 
and  though  he  is  actively  interested  in  public  affairs,  he  does  not  care 
for  public  office.  He  has  been  hardworking  and  thrifty  all  his  life,  and 


872 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


lias  well  earned  his  days  of  ease  and  comfort.  He  is  a man  of  strict 
honesty  and  in  his  business  dealings  has  always  been  governed  by  good 
business  principles. 

Mr.  Shark  married  Elizabeth  (Betsey)  Holycross,  who  has  now 
reached  the  age  of  seventy-four  years.  She  is  a daughter  of  James 
Holycross,  also  from  Virginia,  who  removed  to  Marion  county,  Ohio. 
To  this  union  ten  children  have  been  born,  namely:  Mollie,  wife  of 

John  Macombs,  of  Magnetic  Springs,  has  two  children ; Jason,  married 
Ann  Lynn  and  has  two  children ; and  Irene,  wife  of  Ely  Milligan,  who 
has  two  children;  William,  married  Louisa  Moore  and  they  have  two 
children,  Fred,  unmarried,  and  Mary,  wife  of  E.  Terrill,  of  Indiana,  who 
has  three  children ; Emily,  deceased,  left  five  children,  of  whom  one, 
Maggie,  Mrs.  Valentine,  of  Kenton,  Ohio,  has  one  child;  Albert,  of 
Magnetic  Springs,  married  Louise  Longstoff,  and  they  have  three  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Merrill  married  Madge  Hite,  and  Ethel,  the  wife  of  B. 
Dewitt,  has  one  child;  George,  of  Kenton,  married  Emma  Bachman,  and 
they  have  two  children ; Rosetta,  wife  of  Ed  Hildreth,  a farmer,  has 
two  children ; Leroy,  a farmer  of  Dudley  township,  married  Grace 
Gorman  and  they  have  three  children ; Anna,  deceased ; Maude,  wife  of 
P.  Warner,  of  Dudley  township,  has  two  children;  and  Howard,  mar- 
ried Collie  Stultz,  and  they  have  two  children.  The  last  named  family 
live  with  Mr.  Shark  on  the  family  homestead. 

John  W.  Powell,  a prosperous  and  prominent  farmer  and  stock 
raiser  of  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  was  born  in  the  county,  in  Marion  town- 
ship, December  15,  1858,  and  is  a son  of  William  and  Nancy  (Lions) 
Powell.  William  Powell  was  born  in  England,  about  1821,  and  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  the  United  States  when  a small  boy.  They  located 
in  Hardin  county,  and  there  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives,  on  a 
farm  in  Marion  township.  Mr.  Powell  grew  to  manhood  on  his  father’s 
farm  and  married  Nancy  Lions,  a native  of  Pennsylvania.  To  this 
union  seven  children  were  born,  of  whom  four  still  survive  (1910), 
namely:  James  Powell,  of  Kenton;  Joseph,  of  Marion  township;  Sarah, 
wife  of  William  Moore,  of  Liberty  township ; and  John  W. 

The  boyhood  of  John  W.  Powell  was  spent  on  a farm  in  Marion 
township,  and  when  he  was  old  enough  he  began  helping  with  the  work 
of  the  farm,  attending  school  winters  until  seventeen  years  of  age.  He 
continued  working  on  his  father’s  farm  until  he  reached  his  majority, 
when  his  mother  was  married  a second  time,  to  William  Close,  and  the 
young  man  worked  on  the  farm  for  him  six  years.  Then  in  company 
with  his  brother  Joseph,  he  carried  on  farming  six  years. 

Mr.  Powell  married  Emma  Shetlon,  and  they  became  parents  of  one 
child,  Opal,  wife  of  Emmett  Potter,  of  Cessna  township.  Mrs.  Powell 
died  in  1886  and  Mr.  Powell  married  (second)  Miss  Minnie  Blooworth, 
a native  of  Liberty  township.  One  son  and  three  daughters  were  born 
to  this  union,  namely : Ethel,  a student  in  Ada  high  school ; Beulah  and 
Esther,  attending  district  school,  and  Justin,  born  March  28,  1907. 

Politically  Mr.  Powell  is  a Republican.  In  the  summer  of  1907 
Mr.  Powell  erected  his  present  fine  residence,  fitted  with  modern  con- 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


873 


veniences.  His  other  buildings  are  in  good  order,  and  his  land  in  a 
good  state  of  cultivation.  He  owns  one  hundred  and  sixty-eight  acres 
in  section  1,  Marion  township,  and  aside  from  three  years  spent  in 
Kenton  and  six  years  in  Pleasant  township,  he  has  spent  his  entire  life 
in  Marion  township.  He  is  well  known  and  highly  respected,  having 
a wide  circle  of  friends. 

E.  E.  Jones. — Occupying  a leading  position  among  the  wide-awake, 
enterprising  business  men  of  Kenton,  E.  E.  Jones  is  identified  with  the 
mercantile  interests  of  Hardin  county  as  a wholesale  and  retail  dealer  in 
grain,  coal,  and  hay,  having  an  extensive  and  remunerative  trade.  A 
life-long  resident  of  Hardin  county,  he  was  born,  September  30,  1860, 
in  Dunkirk,  a son  of  J.  M.  Jones. 

Born,  reared  and  educated  in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  J.  M.  Jones  came 
to  Hardin  county  in  early  manhood,  and  here  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life,  passing  away  July  3,  1907.  He  began  his  active  career  as  a school 
teacher  but.  afterwards  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  first  in  Washing- 
ton township,  but  afterwards  buying  a farm  in  Blanchard  township, 
where  he  tilled  the  soil  to  some  purpose  for  many  years.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Miranda  Gillen,  who  was  born  in  Dover,  New  Jersey,  seventy- 
four  years  ago,  and  is  now  a resident  of  Kenton.  Her  father,  James 
Gillen,  a stone  and  brick  mason  by  trade,  came  with  his  family  to  Hardin 
county,  and  here  spent  his  remaining  days.  Nine  children  were  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  M.  Jones,  namely:  Caroline,  deceased;  B.  K.  Jones, 
M.  D.,  of  Kenton;  E.  E.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Ella,  his  twin  sister, 
now  the  wife  of  Dr.  W.  D.  Barnhill,  of  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana;  Christo- 
pher and  Charles,  twins,  both  deceased;  Dr.  U.  0.,  Adelbert,  a twin 
brother  of  Dr.  U.  O.,  and  John  Morgan,  of  Lincoln,  Nebraska,  an 
assistant  clerk  in  the  railway  mail  service. 

Having  laid  a good  foundation  for  his  future  education  in  the 
district  schools  of  Blanchard  township,  E.  E.  Jones  completed  his  early 
studies  in  the  State  Normal  School  at  Ada.  Beginning  life  for  himself, 
he  was  successfully  employed  in  buying  and  shipping  grain  and  hay  in 
Dunkirk  from  1885  until  1890.  Coming  from  there  to  Kenton  in  the 
latter  year,  Mr.  Jones  has  since  developed  a very  large  and  profitable 
mercantile  business  as  a wholesale  and  retail  dealer  in  grain,  hay  and 
coal.  He  is  also  interested  in  agricultural  pursuits,  owning  a farm  of 
forty  acres  in  this  vicinity,  and  having  a half  interest  in  an  estate  of 
ninety  acres. 

Mr.  Jones  married,  September  30,  1885,  Delpha  A.  Taylor,  who  was 
born  in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  but  as  a child  came  with  her  parents,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  J.  W.  Taylor  to  Hardin  county,  and  was  here  brought  up, 
receiving  her  education  in  the  Dunkirk  schools.  Two  children  have 
brightened  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jones,  namely:  Dean  C.  and  Neil 
T.  An  earnest  Republican  in  his  political  affiliations,  and  an  active 
worker  in  his  party,  Mr.  Jones  was  elected  county  treasurer  in  1902,  and 
served  in  that  capacity  two  terms,  being  honored  with  a reelection  in 
1904.  He  is  prominently  identified  with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  being 
a Royal  Arch  Mason,  and  a Knight  Templar. 


874 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


William  Clark  Winder,  a prominent  citizen  of  Mt.  Victory,  Ohio, 
was  born  in  Hale  township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  April  28,  1868.  His 
father,  Elihu  Winder,  who  lived  on  the  old  Wilson  farm  in  Hale  town- 
ship, was  born  in  Stark  county,  Ohio,  and  died  December  16,  1904,  at 
the  age  of  seventy-three  years.  He  was  left  an  orphan  when  a small 
child,  and  with  his  two  brothers  and  three  sisters  was  reared  by  his 
grandfather,  Thomas  Bloomfield.  Elihu  Winder  came  to  Hardin 
county,  Ohio,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  and  worked  on  a farm  for 
Thomas  McCall,  until  his  marriage,  when  he  carried  on  the  present  farm 
of  his  father-in-law,  John  C.  Garwood.  In  1884  he  settled  on  the  Hamp- 
ton farm  in  Dudley  township,  where  he  remained  until  1901,  and  in 
that  year  located  near  Kenton,  where  he  carried  on  farming  until  his 
death.  lie  was  a member  of  the  United  Brethren  church  of  Mt.  Victory, 
but  never  greatly  interested  in  political  matters. 

Elihu  Winder  enlisted  in  Company  H,  One  Hundred  Twenty-first 
Ohio  Infantry,  under  General  Sigel.  He  was  with  Ferd  Kopp  and 
George  Ansley,  when  Boyd  was  shot  between  them,  at  Maryland  Heights. 
He  served  four  months  and  was  mustered  out  in  1865.  Mr.  Winder 
married  Hopy  Garwood,  now  living,  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven  years, 
with  a daughter  in  Buck  township,  Hardin  county.  Besides  William  C., 
the  children  of  Elihu  Winder  and  his  wife  were:  Louis  W.,  of  Marion, 
in  insurance  business ; Maud,  a music  teacher,  living  in  Buck  township 
with  her  mother ; Rebecca,  died  at  the  age  of  forty-six  years,  and  Rockey, 
died  at  the  age  of  thirty  years.  Mr.  Winder  has  two  sisters  living, 
namely : Anna,  wife  of  Thomas  Moreland,  of  Elkhart  county,  Indiana, 
and  one  other. 

The  education  of  William  C.  Winder  was  acquired  in  his  native 
county,  and  he  attended  Mt.  Victory  schools  until  sixteen  years  old.  He 
then  helped  his  father  on  the  farm  and  remained  at  home  until  twenty 
years  of  age,  when  he  began  learning  the  trade  of  barber,  which  he  has 
worked  at  for  the  past  twenty-one  years.  He  is  also  engaged  in  the 
accident,  life  and  fire  insurance  business,  and  for  the  past  fifteen  years 
has  also  worked  at  paper-hanging  and  decorating  work.  He  is  a good 
workman,  and  skillful  in  all  the  work  he  undertakes.  His  industry  and 
honesty  are  well  recognized,  and  he  is  held  in  high  esteem  by  all  who 
know  him. 

January  5,  1888,  Mr.  Winder  married  Anna  M.  Ponelson,  born 
August  1.  1868,  daughter  of  Rob  and  Susanna  (Shanks)  Ponelson.  Mr. 
Winder  and  his  wife  became  parents  of  children  as  follows:  William  C., 
Jr.,  born  October  14,  1888,  a student,  living  at.  home;  Storley,  born 
April  5,  1895;  Lucille,  June  16,  1898;  Robert  E.  March  26,  1900;  Rich- 
ard Carvel,  February  22,  1902 ; Martin,  February,  1904 ; Helen,  June 
26,  1906 ; and  Minnie,  September  26,  1908.  Mr.  Winder  and  his  family 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  of  Mt.  Victory,  and  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  having  passed  through  the  chairs  of  the  latter;  he  also 
served  twelve  years  as  record-keeper  of  the  K.  O.  T.  M.,  of  which  he  is 
a member.  Politically  he  is  a Republican,  and  served  as  corporation 
and  township  clerk  eight  terms  each,  or  sixteen  years. 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


875 


John  S.  Scott. — Among  the  most  substantial  and  influential  busi- 
ness men  of  Kenton,  Ohio,  is  a successful  contractor  and  builder.  He 
was  born  in  Kenton,  July  17,  1843,  and  is  a son  of  James  and  Mary 
(Eaton)  Scott,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  James  Scott  was  of 
Scotch  descent,  and  came  to  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  in  the  spring  of 
1833,  locating  in  Kenton.  He  also  was  a contractor  and  carpenter,  and 
erected  some  of  the  first  houses  put  up  in  the  city  of  Kenton.  He  built 
irp  a good  business,  and  became  a prominent  member  of  the  community. 
Politically  he  was  a Democrat ; he  died  when  about  fifty-seven  years  of 
age.  He  was  married  in  his  native  state,  and  he  and  his  wife  reared 
six  sons  and  six  daughters,  of  whom  two  sons  and  three  daughters  sur- 
vive at  the  present  time,  John  S.  being  the  ninth  child. 

The  early  boyhood  of  John  S.  Scott  was  spent  in  Kenton,  and  when 
five  years  of  age  his  father  moved  to  a farm  in  Buck  township,  Hardin 
county,  where  John  lived  until  fifteen  years  of  age,  attending  the  public 
schools,  and  then  started  in  life  for  himself.  He  worked  some  time  at 
the  trade  of  carpenter,  and  in  1861  enlisted  in  Company  B,  Eighty- 
second  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  later  attaining  the  rank  of  sergeant. 
He  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  about  four  years  altogether.  He 
reenlisted  at  Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  in  the  same  company  and  regiment, 
and  took  part,  in  most  of  the  important  battles  of  the  struggle,  in  Vir- 
ginia and  along  the  Potomac,  until  after  Gettysburg,  when  they  were 
transferred  to  the  Western  Army.  He  was  with  Sherman  at  the 
capture  of  Atlanta  and  the  march  to  the  sea.  Mr.  Scott  was  first 
wounded  in  the  right  shoulder,  with  a minie  ball,  at  the  battle  of  Bull 
Run.  He  wras  again  wounded  in  the  forehead  and  left  leg,  at  Chancel- 
lorsville,  wms  taken  prisoner  and  spent  five  months  at  Libby  prison, 
returning  to  his  regiment  in  October,  1863.  He  was  present  at  the 
Grand  Review  at  Washington,  and  was  then  ordered  to  Texas,  but 
after  proceeding  as  far  as  Louisville,  returned  home,  arriving  in  Kenton 
July  29,  1865.  Upon  his  return  he  worked  twenty  days  and  then  had 
the  ball  removed  from  his  shoulder.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  en- 
gaged as  carpenter,  contractor  and  builder.  He  has  erected  more 
buildings  in  Kenton  than  any  other  three  men  engaged  in  the  same 
occupation ; he  has  built  business  blocks,  clwellngs,  churches,  school- 
houses  and  other  public  buildings,  and  has  conducted  his  business  in  a 
creditable  manner.  He  is  an  able  workman  himself,  and  employs 
several  men. 

In  1867  Mr.  Scott  married  Almira  Bridge,  a native  of  Union  county, 
Ohio,  who  wras  reared  in  Buck  township,  Hardin  county,  daughter  of 
Thomas  Warner.  Mr.  Scott  and  his  wife  have  one  daughter,  Susa, 
wife  of  George  A.  Wendt,  of  Kenton.  Mr.  Scott  is  a stanch  Republican 
and  takes  an  active  interest  in  public  affairs.  He  served  four  years  as 
sheriff  of  Hardin  county,  also  served  as  a member  of  the  city  council. 
He  is  a member  of  the  Masons  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  also  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  and  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 
He  is  a lifelong  resident  of  Hardin  county,  and  has  been  actively  identi- 
fied with  its  interests.  He  is  widely  known  throughout  the  community, 
and  has  the  entire  respect  and  confidence  of  his  fellows. 


876 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


William  Poe. — Among  the  honored  native  sons  of  Hardin  county 
who  have  witnessed  and  assisted  in  its  development  from  the  virgin 
wilds  into  one  of  the  most  progressive  and  prosperous  sections  of  the 
tine  old  Western  Reserve  is  William  Poe,  who  was  born  in  the  township 
that  is  now  his  home  and  who  is  a member  of  one  of  the  sterling  pioneer 
families  of  this  county,  where  his  entire  life  thus  far  lias  been  passed 
and  where  he  has  been  identified  with  the  great  industries  of  agriculture 
and  stock-growing  from  his  youth,  being  now  the  owner  of  a well  im- 
proved and  valuable  landed  estate  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  acres,  in 
Roundhead  township.  His  life  has  been  guided  and  governed  by  the 
strictest  principles  of  integrity  and  honor,  and  thus  he  has  not  been 
denied  the  fullest  measure  of  popular  confidence  and  esteem.  He  is  one 
of  the  well  known  and  representative  farmers  of  the  county  and  is 
specially  entitled  to  consideration  in  this  history  of  Hardin  county. 

William  Poe  was  born  in  Roundhead  township,  Hardin  county, 
Ohio,  on  the  18th  of  December,  1837,  and  is  a son  of  Andrew  and  Lavina 
(Zimmerman)  Poe.  Andrew  Poe  was  born  in  Kentucky,  in  May,  1816, 
and  was  a child  at  the  time  of  his  parents’  removal  to  Fayette  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  was  reared  to  manhood,  receiving  such  advantages  as 
were  offered  in  the  primitive  schools  of  the  pioneer  epoch.  His  mar- 
riage was  solemnized  in  Ross  county,  and  he  was  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  Roundhead  township,  Hardin  county,  where  he  became  the  owner  of 
four  hundred  acres  of  heavily  timbered  land.  He  made  a clearing  in 
which  to  erect  his  little  log  house  and  then  essayed  the  herculean  task 
of  reclaiming  his  land  to  cultivation.  He  was  a man  of  indomitable 
energy  and  sterling  character,  and  he  eventually  became  one  of  the 
substantial  farmers  of  the  county,  where  his  name  is  held  in  high  regard 
by  all  who  remember  him  as  a venerable  patriarch  of  this  section,  where 
he  continued  to  reside  until  his  death,  in  April,  1906,  only  a few  weeks 
before  he  would  have  ninety  years  of  age.  His  devoted  wife  and 
himself  were  both  devout  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
They  became  the  parents  of  three  sons  and  four  daughters,  of  whom  the 
subject  of  this  review  is  the  eldest;  William  Milton  is  a resident  of 
Kansas ; Ann  M.  is  the  wife  of  Hamilton  Hill ; Geneva  is  the  widow  of 
Daniel  Carter;  Samantha  is  the  wife  of  James  Smith;  David;  and 
Douglas. 

William  Poe  was  ushered  into  the  world  in  the  little  pioneer  home 
in  the  midst  of  the  forests  of  Roundhead  township,  and  his  earliest  labors 
were  in  connection  with  the  arduous  work  of  the  farm.  He  assisted  in 
clearing  land  and  in  other  portions  of  the  farm  work,  and  to  the  pioneer 
schools  of  the  locality  and  period  he  is  indebted  for  his  early  educational 
training,  which  was  limited,  as  a matter  of  course,  but  which  has  been 
supplemented  by  the  lessons  gained  under  the  direction  of  that  wisest  of 
headmasters,  experience.  Mr.  Poe  has  had  no  inclination  to  sever  his 
allegiance  to  the  great  basic  art  of  agriculture  during  the  long  interven- 
ing years,  marked  by  ‘ 1 ceaseless  toil  and  endeavor.  ’ ’ He  initiated  his 
independent  operations  on  eighty  acres  of  land  in  his  native  township, 
establishing  his  home  in  the  woods  and  reclaiming  his  land  from  the 
forest.  Success  of  definite  and  generous  order  crowned  his  efforts  and 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


877 


he  is  now  the  owner  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  well  improved 
and  most  productive  land,  located  in  sections  4,  16  and  17,  Roundhead 
township.  lie  has  given  his  attention  to  diversified  agriculture  and  the 
raising  of  high-grade  stock,  and,  well  preserved  in  mental  and  physical 
powers,  he  still  finds  satisfaction  in  supervising  the  various  departments 
of  his  farm  work.  He  is  a substantial,  progressive  and  public-spirited 
citizen,  has  ever  lent  his  aid  in  support  of  measures  for  the  general  good, 
and  has  contributed  his  quota  to  the  industrial  and  civic  upbuilding  of 
this  favored  section  of  the  Reserve.  He  is  a stockholder  in  the  Belle 
Center  Bank  and  as  a business  man  his  ability  is  best  indicated  by  the 
success  which  he  has  attained  through  his  own  well  directed  endeavors. 

In  politics  Mr.  Poe  is  found  arrayed  under  the  banner  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party  but  he  has  never  sought  the  honors  or  emoluments  of  public 
office,  though  he  has  consented  to  serve  as  school  director  of  his  district. 
He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at 
Pleasant  Hill,  and  he  is  a valued  member  of  its  board  of  trustees. 

Mr.  Poe  has  been  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Miss  Helen  M. 
Buffenbarger,  who  was  born  in  Auglaize  county,  this  state,  and  whose 
death  occurred  on  the  1st  of  May,  1898.  They  became  the  parents  of 
five  children,  concerning  whom  the  following  brief  data  are  entered : 
Florence,  who  was  a successful  school  teacher  when  a young  woman,  is 
now  the  wife  of  James  Patrick;  Marquis  is  a successful  farmer  of  Round- 
head  township  and  he  also  found  requisition  for  service  in  the  pedagogic 
profession ; Ada  N.  is  the  wife  of  Frederick  Davidson ; Leota  is  the 
widow  of  Frank  Tidd,  of  Roundhead  township,  where  she  still  resides ; 
and  Vesta,  is  the  wife  of  Edward  Turner.  Mr.  Poe  married  for  his 
second  wife  Miss  Pauline  Stinson,  daughter  of  John  W.  and  Selina 
(Brinton)  Stinson.  She  was  born  in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  on  the  18th 
of  October,  1856,  and  was  about  ten  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  her 
parents’  removal  to  Hardin  county,  where  she  has  since  maintained  her 
home,  and  where  she  has  a wide  circle  of  friends. 

J.  A.  Grafmiller,  a well-to-do  farmer  of  Jackson  township,  Hardin 
county,  owns  a farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  well  improved 
land,  which  has  been  in  his  possession  since  1888.  He  was  born  in 
Crawford  county,  Ohio,  in  1862,  and  is  a son  of  Andrew  Grafmiller,  also 
a native  of  Crawford  county,  born  in  1838,  whose  wife  was  born  in  1840. 
He  removed  with  his  family  to  Hardin  county,  in  1869,  first  buying 
eighty  acres  and  later  adding  to  his  holdings.  In  1882  and  1884  he 
built  a fine  brick  house;  he  served  as  township  trustee.  He  and  his 
wife  are  now  residing  in  the  state  of  Washington.  Their  children 
were:  William  A.,  Mary  M.  (Mrs.  Gardner)  and  J.  A.  Andrew 

Grafmiller,  is  a son  of  Andrew  and  Siloam  (Wizard)  Grafmiller,  both 
natives  of  Baden,  Germany,  who  came  to  this  county  as  early  as  1834, 
and  settled  in  Crawford  county,  Ohio.  They  were  parents  of  children 
as  follows:  Andrew,  Augustus  (deceased),  Christian  (deceased),  Jacob, 
Rudolph  and  Caroline  (deceased). 

J.  A.  Grafmiller  was  reared  and  educated  in  Crawford  and  Hardin 
counties,  having  come  with  his  parents  to  the  latter  county  in  1869.  He 
VoJ.  11—28 


878 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


took  up  farming  after  completing  his  education,  with  what  success  may 
be  seen.  He  is  well  known  and  highly  esteemed  in  the  community, 
and  takes  an  active  interest  in  public  affairs.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias. 

In  1885  Mr.  Grafmiller  married  Sarah  J.,  who  was  born  August  22, 
1863,  in  Goshen  township  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  a daughter  of  James  M. 
Baker.  To  this  union  have  been  born  seven  children,  namely : Edna, 
Lydia,  Matthew,  Ollie  M.,  Jessie,  Ray  and  an  infant. 


J.  N.  Hensel,  a progressive  farmer  of  Blanchard  township,  where 
he  owns  eighty  acres  of  well-tilled  and  valuable  land  was  born  in  Wash- 
ington township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  in  1865,  and  is  a son  of  Adam 
and  Thresa  Hensel,  both  natives  of  Germany,  whence  they  emigrated 
to  this  country  in  1838.  After  spending  two  years  in  Columbus,  Ohio, 
they  located  in  Hardin  county,  which  was  at  that  time  new  country  and 
the  land  was  not  cleared.  Here  Adam  Hensel  purchased  eighty  acres 
of  land,  to  which  he  was  soon  after  able  to  add  another  eighty.  By 
untiring  energy  and  economy  he  was  afterward  able  to  purchase  another 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  all  in  Washington  township.  He  after- 
ward purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Blanchard  township,  which  is 
now  the  property  of  J.  N. ; he  was  thus  at  one  time  possessed  of  four 
hundred  acres.  Mr.  Hensel  was  an  earnest  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church.  Tie  was  the  father  of  children  as  follows : Kate,  Louisa, 
Charles,  John,  J.  N.,  George,  Mary,  William  and  three  who  died  in 
infancy. 

J.  N.  Hensel  was  educated  in  his  native  township,  and  has  always 
followed  farming.  He  has  owned  his  present  farm  since  1891,  and  has 
been  very  successful.  Mr.  Hensel  is  an  intelligent  farmer,  and  looks 
carefully  after  his  business  interests.  He  stands  well  in  the  community, 
and  is  a public-spirited,  useful  citizen.  He  and  his  family  are  members 
of  the  German  Lutheran  church,  and  interested  in  all  movements  and 
causes  for  the  general  welfare. 

In  1890  Mr.  Hensel  married  Alvinsie,  daughter  of  Charles  Hill,  a 
well-to-do  farmer  of  Hardin  county,  and  to  this  union  have  been  born 
six  children,  namely:  Charles,  Dean,  Catherine,  Harry,  Lucile  and 

Helen.  Mrs.  Hensel  is  also  a native  of  Washington  township,  born 
in  1871. 

Benson  M.  Hopkins,  a well  known  and  distinctively  popular  citizen 
of  the  village  of  Alger  is  entitled  to  special  credit  for  the  success  he  has 
gained  through  his  own  indefatigable  efforts,  as  he  has  been  dependent 
upon  his  own  resources  from  his  boyhood  days  and  has  had  his  full 
share  of  the  “slings  and  arrows  of  outrageous  fortune,”  so  far  as  they 
are  ever  directed  against  the  one  who  thus  fights  the  battle  of  life  for 
himself. 

Mr.  Hopkins  is  a native  of  the  old  Buckeye  state  and  here  the  major 
portion  of  his  life  thus  far  has  been  spent.  He  was  born  in  Morgan 
county,  Ohio,  on  the  15th  of  July,  1869,  and  is  a son  of  James  and  Mary 
(Breeze)  Hopkins.  When  but  six  years  of  age  he  was  entrusted  to  the 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


879 


care  of  others  than  his  parents,  and  for  several  years  thereafter  he  found 
his  home  an  uncertain  quantity,  not  only  in  location  but  in  meriting  the 
name.  He  received  but  meager  educational  advantages,  but  has  learned 
well  the  lessons  to  be  gained  in  the  school  of  practical  experience,  and  is 
known  as  a capable  business  man  and  as  a citizen  of  sterling  integrity 
of  character.  He  devoted  his  attention  principally  to  farm  Avork  until 
he  had  attained  to  the  age  of  nineteen  years,  after  which  he  was  engaged 
in  mining  work  for  about  two  years.  Thereafter  he  was  in  the  employ 
of  the  C.  S.  & A.  R.  R.  He  worked  for  this  company  on  its  coal  docks 
and  also  as  “hostler”  of  a locomotive,  turning  his  attention  to  any 
honest  occupation  that  would  afford  him  due  financial  returns  for  his 
efforts. 

In  1903  Mr.  Hopkins  took  up  his  residence  in  the  village  of  Alger, 
Hardin  county,  where  he  has  since  maintained  his  home  and  Avhere  he 
is  held  in  unqualified  popular  esteem.  Soon  after  his  arrival  here  he 
leased  a portion  of  the  fertile  marsh  land  lying  contiguous  to  the  village 
and  he  put  this  into  effective  use  in  the  raising  of  melons  and  a large 
variety  of  vegetables.  He  found  a ready  market  for  his  products  and 
built  up  a prosperous  business,  in  which  he  has  since  continued,  ha\dng 
recently  released  the  land  for  a period  of  five  years.  As  a market- 
gardener  he  has  gained  a high  reputation  for  his  discrimination  and 
effective  handling  of  the  various  details  of  his  enterprse.  He  is  the 
owner  of  a fine  residence  property  on  Front  street,  and  also  owns  two 
full  lots  and  two  fractional  lots  in  the  Dunlap  addition  to  the  village. 
In  politics  Mr.  Hopkins  is  a stanch  supporter  of  the  cause  of  the  Repub- 
lican party  and  both  he  and  his  Avife  hold  membership  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church. 

Mr.  Hopkins  AAras  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Rosetta  Roberts,  Avho 
was  born  and  reared  in  Perry  county,  this  state,  and  they  have  three 
children,  Avhose  names,  with  respective  dates  of  birth,  are  here  noted : 
Noble  B.,  February  21,  1896 ; Charles  A.,  February  28,  1903 ; and  Dale, 
February  15,  1908. 

Henry  Conklin. — One  of  the  most  prominent  of  Hardin  county’s 
business  men  Avhose  enterprise  and  sound  judgment  have  not  only  pro- 
moted individual  prosperity  but  have  advanced  the  public  welfare  is 
mentioned  Henry  Conklin,  the  promoter  and  operator  of  the  Mt.  Victory 
electric  light  plant.  Mr.  Conklin  was  born  in  Jones  county,  Iowa, 
December  15,  1856.  Samuel  Conklin,  his  father,  Avas  born  in  Hardin 
county,  becoming  a laborer  and  farmer,  and  he  moved  from  here  to 
Marion  county,  Ohio,  and  from  there  to  IoAva  in  1855,  but  returned  to 
Marion  county  during  the  infancy  of  his  son  Henry.  He  Avas  a farmer 
there  for  some  time,  but  finally  sold  his  farm  and  with  his  family  moved 
to  Pulaski  county,  Indiana,  but  again  he  returned  to  Ohio,  and  settling 
in  Mt.  Victory  he  died  here.  His  Avife,  Hannah,  Avas  a daughter  of 
John  Preston,  a Marion  county  farmer,  and  their  family  numbered  the 
following  children : William,  a farmer  in  Arenac  county,  Michigan  ; 

Riley,  living  in  Mt.  Victory ; Mary  Ellen,  AATife  of  Orr  Pyers,  also  in  Mt. 
Victory;  Elmira,  of  this  city;  and  Henry. 


880 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Henry  Conklin  after  leaving  school  at  the  age  of  fifteen  learned  and 
followed  for  two  years  the  carpenter’s  trade,  later  was  engaged  in  the 
timber  and  lumber  business,  and  in  1881  began  the  operation  of  a saw 
mill  in  connection  with  his  lumbering.  On  the  15th  of  April,  1906,  he 
completed  what  was  then  and  has  since  remained  the  only  electric  plant 
in  this  vicinity,  and  this  plant  furnishes  both  the  light  and  power  for 
Mt.  Victory  and  the  surrounding  country.  This  is  one  of  the  valued 
and  important  institutions  of  the  city,  and  Mr.  Conklin  may  well  feel 
proud  of  what  he  has  accomplished  in  the  way  of  public  improvement 
and  the  success  he  has  achieved. 

He  married  on  the  2d  of  May,  1879,  Sarah  E.  Peaver.  She  was 
born  on  the  16th  of  December,  1856,  in  Hardin  county,  a daughter  of 
John  and  Sarah  (Thomas)  Peaver,  honored  pioneers  of  the  county.  Mrs. 
Conklin  has  the  following  brothers  and  sisters:  George  and  James, 

both  deceased;  Jane,  the  wife  of  Ross  Campbell,  a carpenter  living  in 
Missouri ; and  Edith,  also  deceased.  Five  children  have  blessed  the 
marriage  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Conklin:  Charles,  who  married  Jennie 
Seidel,  and  they  are  living  in  Goshen,  Indiana;  Samuel,  at  home  with 
his  parents ; Harry  Clyde,  who  married  Daisy  Callahan,  and  they  are 
living  in  Mt.  Victory ; Nellie,  wife  of  Elmer  Shirk,  and  they  have  a son 
Francis  Edmond,  the  only  grandchild  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Conklin;  and 
Marie,  in  school.  Mr.  Conklin  gives  his  political  allegiance  to  the 
Democratic  party. 

John  IT.  Culp. — A well  known  and  highly  esteemed  resident  of  Mt. 
Victory,  John  II.  Culp  has  spent  a large  part  of  his  active  life  in  Hardin 
county,  contributing  to  its  industrial  interests  both  as  an  agriculturist 
and  as  a merchant,  in  the  meantime  gaining  for  himself  the  reputation 
of  one  who  deserves  the  confidence  and  trust  of  his  fellow  men.  A son 
of  Jacob  Culp,  he  was  born,  March  23,  1862,  in  Marion,  Ohio.  He  is  of 
German  descent,  and  has  inherited  in  a marked  degree  the  habits  of 
industry  and  thrift  characteristic  of  his  ancestors.  His  grandfather, 
J.  Culp,  was  a,  baker  by  trade,  and,  with  his  wife,  Katie  Culp,  lived  to 
a good  old  age. 

Born  in  Durlach,  Germany,  Jacob  Culp  was  there  brought  up  and 
educated.  Following  the  tide  of  emigration  across  the  Atlantic,  he 
came  to  America  in  1851,  locating  in  Marion,  Ohio,  where  he  followed 
his  trade  of  a stone  mason  for  several  years.  Investing  his  money  then 
in  land,  he  was  afterwards  employed  in  tilling  the  soil  until  his  death,  in 
1882,  at  the  comparatively  early  age  of  fifty-six  years.  He  married 
Katie  Fulmer,  who  was  born  sixty-six  years  ago  in  Germany,  which  was 
the  life-long  home  of  her  parents.  She  came  from  the  Fatherland  with 
her  uncle,  Lewis  Fulmer,  who  settled  in  Marion,  Ohio,  and  subsequently, 
during  the  Civil  war,  fought  bravely  in  defence  of  his  adopted  country. 
Eight  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jacob  Culp,  namely:  Jacob, 
a farmer  in  Meade  county,  Kansas;  Susan,  wife  of  H.  Muth,  a gardener 
in  Mansfield,  Ohio;  John  H.,  with  whom  this  sketch  is  chiefly  concerned; 
Charles,  of  Prospect,  Ohio ; Mary,  wife  of  George  Muth,  of  Mansfield ; 
William,  a cabinet  maker  in  Columbus ; Frank,  an  attorney,  residing  in 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


881 


Butler,  Ohio ; and  Arthur,  living  with  his  mother  on  the  old  homestead. 

Leaving  school  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years,  John  H.  Culp  assisted 
his  father  in  clearing  the  home  farm  for  five  years,  after  which  he  again 
attended  school  for  two  years.  Subsequently,  having  earned  some 
money  by  working  three  years  in  a bakery,  he  embarked  in  agricultural 
pursuits,  renting  land  for  two  years  in  Hale  township.  He  was  then 
similarly  employed  in  Dudley  township  for  a year,  from  there  going  to 
Marion  county,  where  he  had  the  entire  supervision  of  the  Gill  farm  until 
1899,  a period  of  eight  years.  Mr.  Culp  then  bought  a farm  on  the 
pike,  and  there  carried  on  general  farming  with  success  until  1907,  when 
he  sold  at  an  advantage.  Coming  then  to  Mt.  Victory,  Hardin  county, 
he  turned  his  attention  to  an  entirely  different  kind  of  business,  buying 
a restaurant  and  a grocery,  which  he  has  since  conducted  in  an  able 
manner,  at  the  same  time  having  a good  trade  in  hay,  of  which  he  is  an 
extensive  buyer  and  shipper. 

Mr.  Culp  married,  in  1886,  Mary  A.  Self,  who  was  born  in  Marion 
county,  Ohio,  in  1868,  being  a daughter  of  William  Self,  a venerable 
and  highly  respected  farmer,  now  eighty-six  years  of  age.  Three  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Culp,  namely : Floyd,  who  married 
Bessie  Moore,  died  March  29,  1908,  aged  twenty-three  years,  leaving  one 
child,  Mary  Elizabeth  Culp ; Charley,  born  in  1887,  living  on  the  home 
farm;  and  John,  born  in  1892,  attending  school.  In  his  political 
affiliations  Mr.  Culp  is  a steadfast  Democrat,  and  is  now  serving  as 
trustee  of  Hale  township.  Fraternally  he  is  a member  of  the  Indepen- 
dent Order  of  Odd  Fellows ; of  the  Knights  of  Pythias ; and  of  kit. 
Victory  Tent,  K.  0.  T.  M.  Mrs.  Culp  belongs  to  the  Daughters  of 
Rebekah,  and  to  the  Pythian  Sisters,  and  is  an  active  member  of  the 
Church  of  God. 

Christian  Kraft,  one  of  the  worthy  farmers  of  Washington  town- 
ship, Hardin  county,  Ohio,  is  of  German  descent  and  belongs  to  one  of 
the  pioneer  families  of  the  county.  His  grandfather,  John  Kraft,  with 
his  wife  and  son,  William,  came  from  Germany  in  1833,  landing  at 
Baltimore,  Maryland,  and  going  direct  to  Wheeling,  Virginia,  to  the 
home  of  their  son,  John.  They  traveled  by  post,  the  trip  to  Wheeling 
taking  seventeen  days.  After  one  year’s  residence  here,  during  which 
the  mother  died,  John  Kraft  with  his  son  William  and  William  ’s  wife 
came  to  Hardin  county  and  during  the  remainder  of  their  lives  they 
were  residents  of  this  county. 

The  parents  of  Christian  Kraft,  William  and  Louisa  (Stratton) 
Kraft,  settled  in  Washington  township  in  1834,  and  here  the  father 
purchased  two  hundred  acres  of  unimproved  land,  which  in  due  time 
he  converted  into  a beautiful  farm.  In  coming  from  Wheeling,  Virginia, 
which  was  two  hundred  miles  away,  the  mother  of  Mr.  Kraft  related  that 
the  roads  were  so  bad  they  were  oftentimes  obliged  to  get  out  of  the 
wagon  and  walk,  and  in  some  places  had  to  cut  poles  to  lay  across  the 
road ; it  took  two  weeks  to  make  the  trip.  For  many  years  the  home  was 
the  typical  log  house  of  the  pioneer.  They  used  an  old  horse  mill  on 
which  they  ground  corn  for  meal,  and  also  an  old  grater,  like  a horse- 


882 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


radish  grater,  only  very  much  larger.  They  had  no  stoves  and  did  all 
their  cooking  in  the  fire-place.  Bread  was  baked  in  kettles  with  long 
legs  and  heavy  iron  lids.  These  kettles  were  placed  in  the  fire-place, 
the  heavy  iron  lids  were  heated  and  put  on  and  over  the  lids  coals  were 
also  placed.  In  those  days  Indians  were  numerous  and  would  come  to 
the  house  and  ask  for  something  to  eat.  Sheep  had  to  be  penned  up  at 
night  to  protect  them  from  the  ravages  of  wolves,  bears  and  other  wild 
beasts.  The  nearest  grist  mill  was  forty  miles  away  at  West  Liberty, 
Logan  county,  the  road  to  which  was  mostly  through  the  woods.  The 
round  trip  to  the  mill  took  two  weeks  and  sometimes  the  family  would 
be  without  flour  for  several  days  before  the  father’s  return,  during  which 
time  they  would  live  on  roasted  potatoes  served  with  butter,  which  the 
children  thought  delightful.  There  was  no  well  on  the  place  and  water 
had  to  be  carried  from  neighboring  farms.  Like  all  German  people, 
William  and  Louisa  Kraft  were  thrifty  and  economical  and  good  loyal 
citizens  of  their  adopted  country.  William  Kraft  died  at  his  home  in 
this  county  in  1850,  but  his  wife,  who  was  born  in  1815,  survived  him 
until  1889. 

Christian  Kraft  was  born  September  24,  1845,  on  his  father’s  farm 
in  Washington  township,  and  here  lie  was  reared  and  here  he  has  always 
lived.  He  is  the  owner  of  three  tracts  of  choice  land  containing  four 
hundred  and  twelve  acres,  under  a high  state  of  cultivation.  He  figures 
as  one  of  the  prominent  men  of  the  community,  the  offices  of  land  ap- 
praiser and  township  treasurer  having  been  held  by  him.  In  1876, 
Mr.  Kraft  was  married  to  Miss  Louisa  Hensel,  who  was  born  in  Wash- 
ington township,  May  31,  1854,  and  to  them  have  been  given  six  children : 
John  A.,  George  W.,  L.  M.,  Mary,  Irwin  and  Marie. 

David  S.  Tough  is  the  present  chairman  of  the  board  of  trustees  of 
Taylor  Creek  township  and  one  of  the  representative  farmers  and  busi- 
ness men  of  his  community.  He  was  born  on  the  homestead  on  which  he 
now  lives  on  the  11th  of  March,  1870.  David  Tough,  his  father,  born 
in  Scotland  in  September  of  1830,  came  to  America  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
four  and  was  for  seven  years  engaged  in  blacksmithing  in  Urbana,  Ohio, 
coming  then  in  1862  to  Hardin  county,  and  locating  on  the  tract  that  now 
forms  a part  of  the  old  Tough  homestead  in  Taylor  Creek  township. 
This  little  farm  of  fifty-six  acres  at  the  time  of  the  purchase  was  covered 
with  timber,  but  Mr.  Tough  in  time  cleared  the  tract,  built  his  home  and 
transformed  the  tract  into  a splendid  farm.  In  the  city  of  Springfield, 
Ohio,  in  1861,  David  Tough  was  married  to  Miss  Janet  Cummings,  who 
was  born  in  Aberdeen,  Scotland,  in  1832,  a daughter  of  James  and 
Margaret  (MaeBeth)  Cummings,  the  father  a shipbuilder  in  Aberdeen. 
There  was  a son  and  a daughter  born  of  that  union,  and  the  latter,  Jessie, 
is  the  wife  of  William  Harbert,  a printer  in  Chicago,  Illinois. 

David  S.  Tough  has  spent  his  entire  life  on  the  homestead  where  he 
now  lives,  a splendid  tract  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  acres,  and  he  is 
engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock  raising.  He  is  serving  his  second 
term  as  chairman  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  Taylor  Creek  township,  and 
he  also  served  his  township  two  terms  as  a constable.  He  is  an  active 
Republican  worker  in  local  politics. 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


883 


In  1895  Mr.  Tough  was  married  to  Amy  Stout,  who  was  born  on  the 
old  Stout  homestead  in  McDonald  township,  Hardin  county,  on  the  24th 
of  April,  1875,  a daughter  of  Joseph  and  Mary  (Bell)  Stout.  Joseph 
Stout  also  had  his  nativity  on  the  homestead  mentioned,  his  father, 
Daniel  Stout,  having  come  here  from  Pennsylvania.  He  married 
Barbara  Zahllers,  a member  of  another  of  the  pioneer  families  of  Hardin 
county.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stout  are  living,  the  former  at  the  age  of 
sixty-two  and  the  latter  at  the  age  of  fifty-nine.  She  is  a daughter  of 
Richard  and  Elizabeth  (Bergert)  Bell.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stout  became  the 
parents  of  seven  children,  and  the  brothers  and  sisters  of  Mrs.  Tough 
are  Elsie  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  Thomas  Corwin,  a merchant  in  Belle 
Center;  Denny  E.,  at  home  with  his  parents;  Mary  Agnes,  the  wife  of 
George  Dillon,  a farmer  at  Roundhead ; Anna  Bell,  the  wife  of  Roy  Liles, 
in  McDonald  township;  Willard  E.,  on  the  homestead  with  his  parents; 
and  Floyd  Ivan,  also  with  his  parents.  The  four  children  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Tough  are : Ethel,  born  in  1896 ; Mary,  in  1897 ; Bessie,  in  1898 ; 
and  Agnes,  in  1904.  The  eldest  daughter,  Ethel,  at  the  age  of  twelve, 
passed  successfully  the  examination  which  entitled  her  to  free  tuition  in 
any  high  school  in  the  state  of  Ohio.  The  family  are  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  at  Belle  Center. 

William  PI.  McGraw. — There  are  many -fine  farms  in  Hardin  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  that  owe  a great  deal  of  their  good  condition  to  the  owners,  who 
have  spent  much  time  and  effort  to  bring  them  up  to  the  high  standard 
maintained  by  farmers  of  the  present  day.  Among  the  enterprising 
farmers  of  Hale  township  is  William  H.  McGraw,  who  was  born  in  Plain 
City,  Ohio,  March  28,  1867,  and  is  a son  of  Patrick  and  Kate 
(McLaughlin)  McGraw.  Patrick  McGraw  is  a native  of  Ireland,  who 
has  now  reached  the  age  of  ninety  years,  and  is  living  retired  near 
Kenton.  He  came  from  Ireland  when  a young  man  and  settled  on  a 
farm  near  Plain  City,  where  he  followed  farming  some  years,  and  then 
came  to  the  farm  where  he  now  resides.  His  wife,  also  a native  of 
Ireland,  who  came  to  the  United  States  when  a girl,  has  now  reached  the 
venerable  age  of  eighty-six  years.  They  are  members  of  the  Catholic 
church  at  Summit.  Besides  William,  he  and  his  wife  had  the  following 
children:  Daniel,  living  at  home  on  the  farm;  Lawrence,  also  at  home; 
Maggie,  wife  of  J.  McGraw;  Mary,  married  J.  Connell,  of  Kenton, 
where  he  is  a teamster;  and  John,  living  on  a farm  near  Ashley,  Ohio. 

William  H.  McGraw  received  a good  common  school  education  and 
when  he  had  reached  the  age  of  sixteen  years  he  began  assisting  his 
father  on  the  farm,  which  he  continued  until  twenty-two  years  of  age, 
when  he  worked  for  others  until  his  marriage.  He  settled  on  the  farm 
he  now  occupies  in  1898,  and  has  been  since  that  time  actively  engaged 
in  farming  and  stock  raising.  He  has  adopted  the  most  modern  methods 
and  meets  with  a high  degree  of  success.  He  is  a Republican  in 
political  views,  although  he  has  never  cared  for  public  office,  devoting 
himself  closely  to  the  interests  of  his  farm. 

In  1890  Mr.  McGraw  married  Cordelia  Allen,  who  was  born  in  De- 
cember, 1874,  a daughter  of  Charles  and  Jane  (Kelly)  Allen.  Charles 


884 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Allen,  a retired  farmer  of  Mt.  Victory,  has  reached  the  age  of  sixty- 
eight,  years.  His  wife  is  sixty-five  years  of  age.  Mr.  Allen  is  a veteran 
of  the  Civil  war  and  is  a son  of  Ethan  Allen,  who  was  one  of  the  largest 
stock  dealers  in  Fayette  county,  Ohio;  the  family  of  Mrs.  McGraw  came 
from  Fayette  to  Hardin  county  in  1874  and  settled  in  Hale  township, 
where  they  lived  on  a farm  many  years;  later  Mr.  Allen  engaged  in 
livery  business  at  Mt.  Victory  for  a time,  but  is  now  living  retired.  Mr. 
McGraw  and  his  wife  have  been  blessed  with  two  children : Dorothea, 

born  April  7,  1900,  and  Charles,  born  December  6,  1894. 

James  T.  Porter,  a retired  farmer  and  stockman  of  Taylor  Creek 
township,  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  January  17,  1844,  and  is  a son 
of  Andrew  and  Rebecca  (Dunlop)  Porter.  Andrew  Porter’s  father 
located  in  Green  county,  Ohio,  in  1804,  and  lived  there  the  remainder  of 
his  life.  He  served  in  the  war  of  1812.  His  wife,  Jane  Porter,  died 
in  1844. 

Andrew  Porter  was  a native  of  Kentucky,  born  May  11,  1800,  and 
died  October  6,  1867.  He  followed  farming  all  his  life  and  in  1832 
settled  on  what  became  the  family  homestead  in  Taylor  Creek  township, 
where  he  took  up  one  hundred  and  twenty-two  acres  of  land.  This 
farm  was  in  the  woods  and  Mr.  Porter  set  out  to  improve  his  land  and 
erected  a log  cabin  for  the  family  home.  He  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life  on  this  farm  and  became  successful  as  a farmer.  He  was  a member 
of  the  Disciples  church.  He  was  a strong  Whig  and  held  various  town- 
ship offices.  He  was  married,  September  29,  1830,  to  Rebecca  Dunlop, 
who  was  born  in  Morgan  county,  Ohio,  in  1805.  Besides  James  T. 
Porter  his  parents  had  children  as  follows : Freeman,  a farmer  of 

Taylor  Creek  township ; Mary  Ann,  wife  of  O.  Howell,  of  Belle  Center, 
Ohio;  Jane,  widow  of  J.  Lowery,  of  Belle  Center;  and  Susan,  wife  of 
G.  C.  Aldrich,  of  California. 

The  early  years  of  James  T.  Porter  were  spent  on  a farm  and  he 
received  his  education  in  the  district  schools.  At  the  age  of  seventeen 
years  he  enlisted  in  Company  D,  Eighty-fifth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry, 
serving  three  months  under  Captain  Riddle.  In  1864  he  reenlisted  for 
three  years  and  served  under  Generals  Thomas  and  Howard.  He  par- 
ticipated in  the  battles  of  Franklin,  Nashville  and  Springhill.  He  was 
mustered  out  in  1865,  at  Camp  Chase,  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  returned 
home.  After  the  death  of  his  father  he  carried  on  the  farm  for  his 
mother  and  cared  for  her  until  her  death,  in  1886.  His  father  had  built 
the  first  brick  house  in  Hardin  county,  manufacturing  his  own  brick. 

Mr.  Porter  and  his  brother  bought  the  shares  of  the  other  heirs  to 
the  homestead  and  settled  there  in  1877.  He  has  made  a specialty  of 
stock  raising  and  often  wintered  as  many  as  two  hundred  hogs  for  sale  in 
the  spring.  For  the  past  five  years  he  has  been  retired  from  active 
work,  but  still  lives  on  the  farm.  He  has  made  all  possible  improve- 
ments and  has  been  a most  enterprising,  progressive  farmer.  He  has 
worked  hard  all  his  life  until  the  last  few  years  and  met  with  gratifying 
success. 

September  2,  1869,  Mr.  Porter  married  Sarah  J.  Kauffman,  who  was 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


885 


born  in  Richland  county,  Ohio,  September  1,  1849,  daughter  of  John  and 
Mary  (Shaffner)  Kauffman,  the  latter  of  whom  died  in  1907.  Mrs. 
Kauffman  was  a member  of  St.  Paul  Methodist  church  and  an  active 
worker  for  the  church  and  the  Ladies’  Aid  Society.  Mrs.  Porter  has  two 
sisters, — Mary,  wife  of  W.  Moy,  a farmer  living  north  of  Kenton,  and 
Lydia,  wife  of  George  Stone,  also  a farmer.  Mr.  Porter  and  his  wife 
became  parents  of  children  as  follows:  Chase,  born  July  23,  1870,  a 

merchant  of  Richmond,  married  Madeline  LaChanee  and  they  have  two 
children,  Bernard  and  Fred;  Albert  J.,  born  November  28,  1871,  a real 
estate  dealer  of  Marion  county,  Ohio,  married  (first)  Jennie  Jeffers,  by 
whom  he  had  one  child,  Lois,  and  (second)  Bernice  Laughlin,  by  whom 
he  had  one  child,  Helen;  Marshall,  born  June  11,  1874,  an  undertaker  of 
Kenton,  married  Elizabeth  Fisher  and  they  have  one  child,  Emma ; 
William  A.,  born  in  1878,  a farmer  of  Logan  county,  married  Catherine 
Titus  and  they  have  two  children,  Ralph  and  Lulu ; Mary  I.,  born  in 
1881,  married  Harry  Van  Fleet,  a dentist  of  Toledo,  and  they  have  two 
children,  Ethel  and  Margaret;  Charles  E.,  born  September  18,  1884, 
lives  at  home  with  his  parents;  Mina'  C.,  born  October  10,  1887,  lives  at 
home ; and  Lydia,  born  February  9,  1890,  is  at  home. 

Mr.  Porter  and  his  wife  are  both  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  of  Belle  Center.  He  is  a member  of  the  blue  lodge  of  Masons 
in  Belle  Center,  Lodge  No.  348,  and  of  the  chapter  of  Kenton.  Both 
he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Eastern  Star.  He  belongs  to  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  post  at  Kenton.  Politically  Mr.  Porter 
is  a stanch  Republican.  He  has  served  thirty  years  as  member  of  the 
school  board  and  is  at  present  chairman  of  same.  He  served  two  terms 
as  land  appraiser  and  has  also  been  delegate  to  political  conventions.  Mr. 
Porter  is  well  known  in  the  community  where  his  entire  life  has  been 
spent,  and  is  highly  esteemed. 

Harvey  Buckminster,  who  was  for  many  years  a resident  of  Ken- 
ton, Ohio,  was  a native  of  Vermont,  born  in  1800.  When  he  was 
thirteen  months  old  he  was  left  an  orphan  and  was  adopted  into  the 
family  of  Stephen  Strong,  with  whom  he  lived  until  twenty-seven  years 
of  age.  He  then  entered  the  employ  of  a Mr.  Smith,  who  hired  him  to 
drive  a team  over  the  mountains  to  Little  Sandusky  and  defrayed  the 
expenses  of  the  trip.  Mr.  Buckminster  worked  one  month  for  a doctor 
in  the  town  and  in  December,  1827,  engaged  to  work  for  a Mr.  Chaffee, 
who  conducted  a hotel  at  Tymochtee  (in  an  Indian  reservation),  caring 
for  the  stage  horses,  at  four  dollars  per  month  and  his  board.  While  in 
this  town  Mr.  Buckminster  became  acquainted  with  a Mr.  Brown,  from 
New  Hampshire,  who  was  the  founder  of  Browntown,  near  Marseilles, 
and  conducted  a hotel  in  the  new  town.  Mr.  Buckminster  left  his 
position  soon  after  and  began  working  for  Mr.  Brown,  about  the  time  of 
his  marriage.  He  married  Miss  Abigail  Brown,  his  employer’s  daughter 
February  22,  1828,  and  in  May  of  the  same  year  he  was  employed  by  A. 
L.  Hunt  to  drive  a stage  between  Upper  Sandusky  and  Bellefontaine, 
Ohio. 

In  1839  Mr.  Buckminster  purchased  a farm  in  Hardin  county,  Ohio, 


886 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


near  Grassy  Point,  and  established  a tavern,  which  his  wife  conducted, 
while  he  continued  driving  stage.  About  a year  later  he  entered  the 
employ  of  the  North  American  Fur  Company,  purchasing  furs  through 
the  northwestern  part  of  Ohio,  also  traveling  as  far  north  as  Detroit, 
Michigan,  making  his  trips  on  horseback.  During  the  thirteen  years  he 
was  employed  with  this  concern  he  paid  out  some  $75,000  for  furs,  and 
became  well  known  throughout  the  territory  over  which  he  traveled. 
He  discontinued  his  tavern  at  Grassy  Point  in  1842  and  purchased  a 
farm  on  the  old  Sandusky  road,  where  he  erected  a log  tavern  and  he 
and  his  wife  conducted  same  with  success  and  profit  for  a period  of 
some  sixteen  years. 

About  1858  Mr.  Buckminster  rented  his  farm  and  tavern  and  retired 
from  active  life,  settling  in  the  town  of  Kenton.  lie  had  worked  hard 
all  his  life  and  had  been  successful  through  his  own  efforts,  ably  seconded 
by  his  wife,  and  they  were  highly  respected  wherever  they  were  known. 
They  endured  the  hardships  common  to  pioneer  and  frontier  life,  and 
had  well  earned  the  rest  they  were  ready  to  enjoy.  Mrs.  Buckminster 
died  in  1868  and  the  following  year  Mr.  Buckminster  married  Miss 
Ellen  McConaha,  of  West  Liberty,  Ohio,  who  was  left  an  orphan  in  early 
childhood.  By  his  first  wife  Mr.  Buckminster  had  three  children, 
namely : Jane,  Louisa  and  Serena.  By  his  second  marriage  he  had  one 
daughter,  Amelia,  wife  of  J.  A.  Morrison,  of  Kenton.  Mr.  Buckminster 
died  in  January,  1894,  survived  by  his  widow,  who  passed  away  in  1901. 
He  was  greatly  interested  in  the  progress  and  development  of  the 
county  and  was  always  ready  to  do  his  share  in  furthering  any  good 
cause.  Politically  he  was  a stanch  Republican  and  he  attended  the 
Episcopal  church,  although  he  never  became  a member.  He  became  a 
well-known  citizen  of  Kenton,  and  was  able  to  relate  many  interesting 
experiences  of  pioneer  days.  He  had  witnessed  great  changes  in  his 
lifetime.  Coming  to  Ohio  when  the  settlers  were  scatterd  and  the 
roads  poor  and  but  little  traveled,  he  lived  to  see  many  wonderful  im- 
provements and  witnessed  the  gradual  upbuilding  and  growth  of  towns 
and  settlements  where  he  had  first  seen  their  sites  covered  with  timber. 

Thomas  Calvin  Ferguson. — In  the  death  of  Thomas  Calvin 
Ferguson,  late  of  Kenton,  Ohio,  the  entire  community  felt  bereaved  of 
a most  beloved  and  revered  friend  and  benefactor.  Mr.  Ferguson  had 
been  a teacher  in  Kenton  schools  for  a period  of  thirty-four  years,  and 
during  this  time  has  figured  more  prominently  than  any  other  man  in 
moulding  citizenship  and  public  sentiment  in  the  city  for  two  generations. 
He  taught  the  fathers  of  many  of  the  boys  and  girls  who  were  his  pupils 
up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  Professor  Ferguson  came  of  a family  who 
had  been  interested  in  education  and  culture  for  generations  and  in- 
herited a quiet,  studious,  character  and  an  ambition  to  know  all  a man 
could  learn  of  science,  art,  and  the  highest  forms  of  learning. 

Professor  Thomas  C.  Ferguson  was  born  on  a farm  near  Tiffin,  in 
Seneca  county,  Ohio,  June  8,  1851,  one  of  the  five  sons  of  William  and 
Martha  Chamberlain  (Tittle)  Ferguson.  William  Ferguson  was  a son 
of  Thomas  Ferguson,  who  was  of  Scotch  descent,  and  settled  in  West- 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


887 


moreland  county,  Pennsylvania,  about  1800.  Thomas  was  a farmer  by 
occupation  and  a man  with  a high  order  of  culture  and  learning.  Some 
of  the  letters  he  wrote  to  his  children  are  still  preserved  in  the  family 
and  show  that  he  was  a man  of  superior  education.  He  was  an  elder 
in  the  Presbyterian  church,  owned  a large  farm,  and  was  highly  re- 
spected by  his  associates.  He  married  Elizabeth  Marshall,  who  died 
in  middle  life,  and  but  little  is  known  of  her  early  life.  Their  children 
were  all  given  good  educations  and  all  became  prominent  business  men 
of  Pittsburg  and  Allegheny,  except  William. 

William  Ferguson  was  born  in  Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania, 
in  March,  1820,  and  like  his  father,  was  a successful  farmer.  He  was 
a close  student  and  was  informed  far  above  the  average  farmer  of  his 
day.  He  moved  with  his  wife’s  people  to  Seneca  county,  Ohio,  in 
1845.  His  wife  was  born  also  in  Westmoreland  county,  in  1821,  eldest 
daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Susan  Beatty  Tittle.  She  possessed  a good 
education  and  was  a woman  of  culture  and  refinement.  William  Fergu- 
son and  his  wife  lived  together  fifty-two  years,  until  his  death,  in  March, 
1896,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years.  His  widow  survived  him  and  died 
in  March,  1905,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years.  They  had  five  sons,  of 
whom  two  died  in  infancy.  The  others  were : Marshal  Beatty,  the 
eldest,  Thomas  Calvin,  the  second  and  William  Wilson,  the  youngest. 
Marshal  Beatty  was  a graduate  of  Wooster  University,  and  would 
have  graduated  with  high  honors  from  Princeton  Theological  Seminary, 
but  for  his  sudden  death,  during  the  spring  before  graduation,  when  he 
was  thirty  years  old.  His  death  was  caused  as  the  result  of  an  accident. 
William  Wilson  Ferguson  was  a graduate  of  Heidelburg  University  of 
Tiffin  and  of  the  Iron  City  Business  College,  of  Pittsburg.  He  was  a 
successful  druggist  in  Red  Cloud,  Nebraska,  and  died  at  his  father’s 
farm  in  Seneca  county,  Ohio,  in  1887,  at  the  age  of  thirty-two  years,  from 
the  effects  of  asthma.  He  left  a wife  but  no  children. 

Professor  Thomas  C.  Ferguson  was  educated  in  Heidelburg  Uni- 
versity, of  Tiffin,  and  after  leaving  that  institution  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  life  as  a public  instructor.  In  1873  Professor  Ferguson  was 
chosen  superintendent  of  the  public  schools  at  Dunkirk,  Ohio,  and  in 
1875  he  came  to  Kenton  to  accept  a position  as  teacher  of  Grade  No.  9 
in  the  Old  Central  building,  which  burned  more  than  a decade  ago,  and 
when  this  grade  was  merged  with  the  high  school,  becoming  the  freshman 
year,  Mr.  Ferguson  was  given  charge  of  this  division  as  a member  of 
the  high  school  faculty.  He  became  teacher  of  mathematics,  with  his- 
tory, political  science  and  languages  as  side  branches  when  his  services 
were  necessary. 

Some  idea  of  the  early  ambition  of  Mr.  Ferguson  may  be  understood 
from  the  fact  that  when  a child  of  three  years  he  often  cried  until  he 
was  allowed  to  toddle  with  his  older  brother  to  the  nearby  country 
school,  really  beginning  his  education  at  that  age.  He  was  always  a 
close  student  and  had  a burning  desire  to  acquire  knowledge.  He  was 
a broad  and  skillful  teacher  of  mathematics,  in  which  branch  he  espec- 
ially excelled,  and  was  considered  a very  capable  instructor  in  literature 
and  history.  An  active  and  tireless  teacher  as  well  as  student,  he  lived 


888 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


a life  of  service  and  self-sacrifice,  of  which  his  willing  spirit  and  love  of 
his  work  were  the  keynote.  After  his  long  hours  of  work  he  would 
spend  hours  in  study  and  research  and  seemed  never  to  rest.  He  was 
well  known  throughout  the  state  through  institute  and  round-table 
work,  and  the  good  he  accomplished  will  stand  as  a monument  in  the 
character,  mind  and  heart  of  each  one  of  his  students.  His  life  was 
an  inspiration  and  he  had  the  faculty  of  investing  each  subject  on  which 
he  spoke  with  peculiar  interest.  His  position  of  prominence  and 
respect  did  not  come  from  a love  of  display  or  of  being  in  the  public 
mind,  as  he  was  of  a quiet,  retiring  nature,  and  rather  introspective, 
though  he  had  many  warm  friends  and  was  an  enthusiastic  speaker  on  any 
subject  that  interested  him.  He  was  beloved  throughout  the  community 
in  which  he  spent  many  years,  because  of  his  rare  mind  and  wonder- 
ful powers  of  oratory.  He  had  a never-tiring  love  of  young  people, 
and  was  never  happier  than  in  his  work  among  them.  He  was  ever 
patient  and  cheerful,  and  had  high  ideals  of  his  duty  as  an  instructor 
of  the  bright  minds  of  his  interesting  pupils,  who  were  just  budding  into 
manhood  and  womanhood. 

We  quote  from  the  Kenton  Democrat  of  November  25,  1909:  “Pro- 
fessor Ferguson  was  a brilliant  man,  a deep  student,  a model  teacher 
and  a Christian  gentleman.  He  was  an  orator,  and  no  tongue  was  more 
eloquent  than  his.  No  more  beautiful  word  pictures,  enriched  by  gems 
of  literature,  deep  thought  and  long  experience,  have  ever  been  heard  in 
this  city,  than  those  from  the  silver  tongue  of  the  white-haired  orator.” 

The  death  of  Professor  Ferguson  occurred  November  17,  1909,  at 
Kenton,  Ohio.  He  had  for  some  time  been  in  a state  of  nervous  col- 
lapse due  to  stomach  trouble  and  overwork  and  his  family  were  much 
worried  about  his  health,  but  he  loved  his  work  and  would  not  give  up 
while  he  was  able  to  carry  it  on.  The  immediate  cause  of  his  sudden 
death  was  brought  about  by  the  receipt  on  that  evening  of  an  evil  anony- 
mous letter,  attacking  him  in  a very  unmerited  manner.  It  is  supposed 
that,  as  was  his  custom  when  worried  or  grieved  over  anything  he  had 
gone  for  a long  walk,  and  since  a heavy  cold  storm  came  on  that  night, 
he  probably  was  overtaken  with  weakness  and  illness  after  walking  to 
his  farm  about  a mile  and  a half  from  Kenton.  He  was  found  lying 
under  a tree  and  his  spirit  had  passed  to  its  reward  with  none  by  to  wit- 
ness its  departure.  He  was  a man  of  delicacy  of  feeling  and  sensitive 
nature  and  with  his  failing  health  this  attack  was  unbearable.  He  died 
of  exposure  and  a broken  heart. 

He  was  an  elder  in  the  first  Presbyterian  church  and  a member  of 
the  Masonic  Order,  having  served  as  Worshipful  Master.  He  was  a 
deep  student  of  the  Bible  and  was  greatly  revered  for  his  help  in  church 
work.  He  prepared  and  delivered  a number  of  instructive  lectures 
from  the  bible  for  prayer  meetings,  brotherhood  meetings  and  other 
church  meetings.  In  political  views  he  was  a Republican,  as  was  his 
father  before  him,  but  like  him,  did  not  care  for  public  office. 

August  14,  1873,  Mr.  Ferguson  married  Augusta  M.  Phillips,  at 
Patterson,  Ohio.  She  was  the  youngest  daughter  of  G.  T.  Phillips, 
formerly  of  New  Philadelphia,  and  her  mother  was  Miranda  Chrisman. 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


889 


Her  father  was  a cultured  and  educated  man  and  spoke  several  lan- 
guages.. He  was  ninety  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  death,  in 
September,  1896.  He  was  from  New  York  and  his  brother  Edwin  Phil- 
lips was  a w7ell  known  artist  in  Newr  York  City  in  the  early  part  of 
the  nineteenth  century.  The  family  contained  many  gifted  musicians. 
The  children  born  to  Mr.  Ferguson  w7cre  as  follows:  Nellie  F.,  born  in 
Dunkirk,  Ohio,  November  13,  1874,  graduated  from  high  school  and 
married  Dr.  William  C.  Snodgrass,  a physician  of  Kenton ; Martha 
Louise,  born  November  26,  1876,  graduated  from  high  school,  married 
Frank  J.  Baker,  a shoe  merchant  of  Portsmouth,  Ohio ; Grace  C.,  born 
at  Kenton,  September  2.  1878,  graduate  of  high  school  and  of  a business 
college  of  Toledo,  Ohio,  is  a stenographer  and  book-keeper  for  Kenton 
Hardware  Company;  Kate  C.,  born  September  21,  1880,  died  March  12, 
1891 ; John  Beatty,  born  February  5,  1886,  unmarried,  graduated  from 
high  school  and  from  an  architectural  training  school  of  Ada,  Ohio,  is 
an  architect  for  the  Northwestern  Terra  Cotta  Company  of  Chicago ; 
Sarah  Agnes,  born  September  22,  1889,  is  a high  school  graduate ; Edwin 
Phillips,  born  November  31,  1890,  is  in  his  senior  year  in  high  school. 

D.  L.  Fryer,  former  mayor  of  Dunkirk,  and  now  a justice  of  the 
peace  at  Dunkirk,  is  one  of  the  most  popular  and  highly  respected  citi- 
zens of  that  town.  He  was  born  in  Carrollton,  Carroll  county,  Ohio, 
in  1844,  and  is  a son  of  Robert  and  Esther  (Green)  Fryer.  Robert 
was  a son  of  David  Fryer,  who  was  a soldier  in  Washington’s  Army 
during  the  Revolution,  and  was  at  Valley  Forge,  as  was  also  Mrs.  Fryer’s 
father,  Abram  Green.  Robert  Fryer  and  his  wife  were  both  natives 
of  Chester  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  both  of  Quaker  descent.  They 
were  parents  of  four  children,  namely:  John,  D.  L.,  Rachel  and  Lizzie. 
John  served  in  the  Civil  war,  in  the  same  regiment  as  his  brother,  and 
took  part  in  the  same  campaign. 

D.  L.  Fryer  was  reared  on  a farm  and  attended  the  local  schools ; 
he  was  an  earnest  and  persevering  student,  and  became  fitted  for  teach- 
ing, which  profession  he  followed  with  marked  success  nineteen  years, 
seventeen  years  of  which  he  wTas  school  superintendent.  In  October, 
1861,  Mr.  Fryer  followed  the  call  of  his  country,  and  joined  the  Eightieth 
Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  as  a private.  After  serving  his  enlistment 
term  of  three  years,  he  reenlisted  in  1864,  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
first  sergeant,  and  discharged  with  this  rank  in  1865.  Thus,  he  spent 
nearly  four  of  his  best  years  in  his  country’s  service,  and  during  this 
time  never  received  a wound  or  encountered  a serious  accident.  He 
had  left  teaching  to  go  to  the  front,  and  upon  his  return  he  resumed 
his  work.  In  1880  Mr.  Fryer  located  in  Dunkirk,  w^here  he  served  as 
mayor  from  1888  until  1896.  About  the  same  time  he  was  elected  to 
the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace,  wrhich  he  has  since  filled  with  satisfac- 
tion to  all.  For  about  eight  years  he  was  notary  public ; in  connection 
with  his  present  office  Mr.  Fryer  has  been  for  twenty  years  engaged  in  real 
estate  and  insurance  business,  and  for  some  thirty  years  past  has  fol- 
lowed the  vocation  of  auctioneer.  He  is  well  known  throughout  the 


890 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


community,  and  recognized  as  an  enterprising,  progressive  man  of  affairs. 
He  is  actively  interested  in  local  public  affairs,  and  a patriotic,  useful 
citizen. 

Mr.  Fryer  is  a member  of  Dunkirk  Lodge  No.  549,  Ancient  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons,  Ada  Chapter  and  Kenton  Commandery:  be  also 
belongs  to  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  is  now  Com- 
mander of  Post  No.  102,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  which  office  he 
has  already  held  four  terms. 

In  1860  Mr.  Fryer  married  Maggie  Dunlap,  and  they  had  no 
children.  Mrs.  Fryer  died  in  1896. 

John  II.  Rader  is  a native  of  Kenton,  Ohio,  born  in  1857  and  now 
resides  in  Kenton,  although  he  has  spent  most  of  his  life  in  farming. 
He  is  a son  of  Michael  and  Eve  (Rader)  Rader,  the  former  born  in 
Hessen,  Germany,  in  1816,  and  the  latter  born  in  Storfritz,  Germany, 
in  1822.  Michael  Rader  emigrated  to  the  United  States  about  1848 
and  settled  in  Hardin  county,  Ohio.  Tie  had  learned  the  trade  of  wood- 
worker and  followed  it  for  several  years,  but  later  went  to  work  for  a 
farmer  of  Hardin  county,  remaining  three  years  at  this  occupation.  He 
then  returned  to  his  native  country  and  spent  a year  there.  Returning 
to  the  United  States,  he  landed  at  New  Orleans,  came  up  the  Mississippi 
and  Ohio  rivers  to  Cincinnati,  from  which  city  he  walked  to  Kenton. 
Three  years  later  he  again  returned  to  Germany  for  another  year,  and 
returning  to  the  United  States  landed  at  Baltimore,  where  he  met  and 
married  Miss  Eve  Rader.  They  located  in  Hardin  county  and  began 
housekeeping  first  in  an  old  schoolhouse,  remaining  in  this  until  Mr. 
Racier  bought  some  land  and  erected  a small  house,  into  which  they 
moved.  In  1862,  Mr.  Rader  began  farming  on  his  own  account,  renting 
land  for  several  years,  and  in  1871  he  purchased  fifty  acres  of  land  in 
Dudley  township,  where  he  and  his  wife  spent  the  remainder  of  their 
lives.  Mr.  Racier  died  February  13,  1886,  and  his  wife  died  September 
3,  1876. 

The  boyhood  of  John  II.  Racier  was  spent  on  a farm  and  he  acquired 
a very  good  education  in  the  public  schools.  When  old  enough  to  work 
he  became  interested  in  farming,  and  successfully  followed  this  line  of 
work  until  about  fifteen  years  ago,  when  he  gave  up  active  work,  al- 
though he  still  looks  after  his  place.  He  lives  in  the  town  of  Kenton, 
where  he  has  a very  pleasant  home.  Mr.  Rader  was  a most  enterprising 
and  industrious  farmer  and  became  one  of  the  prosperous  and  represen- 
tative citizens  of  the  county.  He  is  a level-headed  and  straightforward 
business  man,  whose  honesty  and  integrity  have  never  been  questioned. 
He  is  a member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  of  Kenton,  and  is  well  known 
in  the  community.  Although  Mr.  Rader  favors  the  principles  of  the 
Republican  party,  in  local  affairs  he  casts  his  vote  for  the  man  he  con- 
siders best  qualified  for  any  given  office. 

In  1876  Mr.  Racier  married  Minerva,  daughter  of  William  and 
Mary  Ann  (Roby)  Williams.  Mr.  Williams  was  born  in  Virginia,  in 
1806  and  his  wife  was  born  in  Ohio,  in  1819.  When  he  was  about  six 
months  old  his  parents  brought  him  to  Ohio  and  located  in  Columbus, 


HISTORY  OP  HARDIN  COUNTY 


891 


where  he  grew  to  maturity.  He  removed  to  Hardin  county  about  1831, 
and  there  worked  at  his  trade  of  harness  maker  and  also  taught  school. 
Mrs.  Williams  removed  to  Hardin  county  with  her  parents  in  1832,  and 
the  family  settled  on  a farm  east  of  Kenton,  where  her  parents  spent 
the  remainder  of  their  lives.  Mr.  Williams  and  his  wife  were  married 
in  1849. 

Damos  Kahler  represents  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  Hardin 
county,  and  their  name  figures  prominently  on  the  pages  of  the  history 
of  Washington  township.  John  Kahler,  his  paternal  grandfather,  born 
in  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  in  1778,  emigrated  to  the  United  States  in 
1834,  and  in  the  same  year  entered  forty  acres  of  government  land  in 
Washington  township.  Hardin  county,  while  two  years  afterward,  in 
1836,  he  brought  his  family  here.  His  wife  before  marriage  was  Martha 
Shively,  and  they  had  three  children : Ludwig,  John  G.  and  one  who  died 
when  young. 

John  G.  Kahler,  born  April  26,  1821,  in  Wurtemburg,  Germany, 
came  with  his  father  to  the  United  States,  and  reaching  man’s  estate  he 
purchased  land  at  different  times  until  he  accumulated  six  hundred  and 
forty  acres,  which  was  afterward  sold  and  willed  to  his  heirs  at  differ- 
ent times  and  with  the  exception  of  forty  acres  the  property  is  still  in 
the  possession  of  his  children.  John  G.  Kahler  was  a worthy  citizen  of 
his  adopted  country  and  an  industrious  and  successful  agriculturist  of 
Hardin  county.  He  served  Washington  township  as  treasurer  for  ten 
years.  He  was  confirmed  in  the  German  Lutheran  church  and  continued 
one  of  the  members  of  that  demonination  until  finally  uniting  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  afterward  living  and  dying  in  that  faith. 
He  married  Miss  Eve  M.  Markley  on  December  28.  1846,  and  nine, 
children  were  born  to  them,  namely : two  who  died  in  infancy,  Damos, 
William,  Simon.  Mary  (deceased).  Prank,  Emma  (deceased)  and  Joseph. 
John  G.  Kahler.  the  father,  died  on  the  18th  of  February,  1908,  when 
eighty-seven  years  of  age,  and  his  wife  died  on  the  19th  of  October,  1905, 
when  seventy-six  years  of  age.  Their  old  family  Bible  shows  with  what 
earnest  care  and  deep  research  the  book  was  read  and  studied,  and  its 
many  markings  also  show  their  familiarity  with  the  Word  of  God.  This 
Bible  is  one  of  Martin  Luther’s  translations,  and  dates  back  to  1585. 

Damos  Kahler  was  born  in  Hancock  county,  Ohio,  January  11, 
1850,  and  was  three  years  of  age  when  his  parents  moved  to  what  is 
now  Dola  in  Washington  township.  On  the  18th  of  December,  1876,  he 
moved  to  his  present  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  valuable 
farming  land,  all  under  a high  state  of  cultivation  and  his  buildings  are 
commodious  and  modern.  He  has  served  his  township  as  an  assessor  and 
school  director,  and  is  one  of  the  influential  residents  of  Washington 
township.  He  married  Miss  Helmena,  a daughter  of  Christian  and  Chris- 
tena.  Heroe,  December  6.  1876,  and  they  have  had  two  children,  Olive 
M.  and  Edward  C..  but  the  son  died  on  the  7th  of  September,  1884.  The 
daughter  is  now  the  wife  of  W.  W.  Stump.  Mr.  Kahler  and  his  family 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Dunkirk,  and  he 
has  served  his  church  as  a steward  and  trustee. 


892 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


Nelson  Roby. — Among  the  venerable  and  highly  respected  residents 
of  Kenton  is  Nelson  Roby,  who  served  his  country  as  a soldier  in  her  time 
of  need,  and  was  for  many  years  busily  engaged  in  promoting  the  agricul- 
tural interests  of  Hardin  county,  carrying  on  general  farming.  A native 
of  Ohio,  he  was  born,  November  14,  1827,  in  Madison  county,  two  miles 
from  Pleasant  Valley,  where  his  father,  Henry  Roby,  was  a pioneer 
settler. 

Henry  Roby  was  born  and  bred  in  Virginia.  Following  the  march 
of  civilization  westward  when  young,  he  settled  in  Madison  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  followed  his  trade  of  gun  smith  until  1831.  In  that  year  he 
came  with  his  family  to  Hardin  county,  making  the  removal  with  teams. 
The  country  roundabout  was  then  in  its  primeval  wildness,  the  log  cabin 
then  serving  as  a Court  House  being  surrounded  by  forest  trees,  the 
Square  not  having  beeen  cleared.  He  bought  forty  acres  of  land  lying 
three  miles  east  of  Kenton,  and  moved,  with  his  family  into  the  log  cabin 
standing  in  the  clearing.  He  began  the  improvement  of  a homestead,  and 
continued  his  pioneer  work  until  his  death,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight 
years,  about  1839.  His  widow,  was  left  with  four  children  to  care  for. 
But  a small  part  of  the  forty  acres  purchased  had  then  been  cleared. 
All  of  the  children  had  to  labor  hard  in  helping  care  for  the  land,  while 
she,  in  addition  to  her  other  duties,  raised  sheep  and  flax,  and  carded, 
spun  and  wove  the  material  in  which  she  clothed  her  family.  She  was 
a most  capable  woman,  and  kept  her  family  together  until  each  of  the 
children  became  self  supporting. 

The  oldest  child  of  his  parents,  Nelson  Roby  took  largely  upon  him- 
self the  care  of  the  home  farm,  remaining  with  his  mother  until  his 
marriage,  when  he  rented  land,  and  began  farming  for  himself.  Enlist- 
ing in  1864,  in  Company  B,  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-fourth  Ohio 
Volunteer  Infantry,  he  went  to  Nashville,  Tennessee,  with  his  regi- 
ment, and  after  taking  a part  in  the  engagement  at  that  place  was  en- 
gaged in  guarding  the  city,  being  on  patrol  duty  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  when  he  was  honorably  discharged  from  the  service,  and  returned 
home.  Mr.  Roby  was  subsequently  engaged  in  tilling  the  soil  until 
1904,  when  he  sold  his  farm,  and  came  to  Kenton,  where  he  has  since 
lived  retired  from  active  pursuits. 

Mr.  Roby  married,  in  his  twenty-second  year,  Mary  Surgeson,  who 
was  born  in  Ohio,  a daughter  of  Jacob  Surgeson.  She  died  in  1901, 
leaving  seven  children,  namely:  Urania,  Scott,  Susan,  John,  Edward, 
Charles  and  Minnie.  Mr.  Roby  is  a member  of  Cantwell  Post,  G.  A.  R., 
and  belongs  to  the  Fairview  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  of  which  Mrs. 
Roby  was  also  a member. 

Henry  W.  Eibling,  of  Dola,  Ohio,  is  a representative  of  an  old 
and  well-known  family  of  Hardin  county.  Mr.  Eibling ’s  grandfather, 
Charles  Eibling,  was  born  in  Germany,  from  whence,  in  1834,  he  came  to 
the  United  States  and  settled  in  Richland  township,  Marion  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  bought  forty  acres  of  land  from  the  Government.  Subsequently, 
he  moved  to  Van  Wert  county,  this  state,  and  purchased  two  hundred 
and  fifteen  acres,  which  he  owned  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  died  in 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


893 


1864,  at  the  age  of  fifty-nine  years.  His  first  wife,  whom  he  married 
in  the  old  country  and  who  came  with  him  to  America,  died  in  Marion 
county,  and  in  1848  he  married  Miss  Rachel  Meyle,  who  had  come  here 
from  Germany  two  years  previous  to  that  time,  and  who  survived  him 
until  1900,  when  she  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years.  His  children 
by  his  first  wife  were  Charles,  Godlieb,  Frederick,  Rachel,  Minnie  and 
Christine ; Charles  and  Frederick  are  deceased.  The  children  of  the 
second  marriage  also  number  six:  C.  T.,  Albert,  John,  Mary,  Caroline, 
Matilda,  of  whom  two,  Albert  and  Mary,  are  deceased. 

C.  T.  Eibling,  eldest  child  of  this  second  union,  was  born  in  Richland 
township,  Marion  county,  in  1849 ; and  in  1860  accompanied  the  family 
on  their  removal  to  Yan  Wert  county,  where  he  grew  up  and  completed 
his  education.  He  followed  farming,  saw-milling  and  threshing  alter- 
nately in  their  seasons  for  a number  of  years,  and  in  the  mean  time,  in 
1868,  came  to  Hardin  county.  Here,  in  Washington  township,  in  1882, 
he  purchased  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  cleared  land,  to  the 
cultivation  and  improvement  of  which  he  devoted  his  energies,  and 
where  he  has  since  lived.  In  1869  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Orth, 
who  was  born  in  Washington  township,  this  county,  in  1851,  daughter  of 
George  and  Martha  M.  Orth,  and  their  union  was  blessed  in  the  birth 
of  seven  children,  five  of  whom  are  living,  namely;  Henry  W.,  Clara, 
Emma,  Otto  and  Louis. 

Henry  W.  Eibling  dates  his  birth  in  Washington  township,  in  1871. 
He  was  reared  on  his  father’s  farm,  and  his  education,  begun  in  the 
common  schools,  has  been  carried  forward  in  the  broad  school  of  ex- 
perience. He  followed  farming  until  1902,  when  he  turned  his  attention 
to  railroading.  Two  years,  however,  sufficed  for  that  line  of  work,  and 
on  February  15,  1904,  he  became  a Rural  Free  Delivery  mail  carrier,  hav- 
ing previously  to  that  time  passed  a rigid  examination,  in  a class  of 
seven,  and  received  a per  cent  of  ninety-nine. 

Mr.  Eibling  has  been  twice  married.  His  first  wife,  Hattie  Beard, 
whom  he  married  in  1896,  died  in  May  1902,  leaving  him  with  one  son, 
Roscoe  W.  In  1904  he  married  Miss  Sarah  Stanyer,  a native  of  Canada, 
and  two  children  have  been  born  of  this  union — Harold  H.  and  Willis 
M.  Previous  to  her  marriage,  Mrs.  Eibling  was  a nurse.  She  is  a 
graduate  of  the  Lima  (O.)  Training  School,  with  the  class  of  1898,  and 
has  had  considerable  hospital  experience.  They  reside  in  Dola,  where 
they  have  a comfortable  and  attractive  home,  and  are  held  in  high  esteem. 
Mr.  Eibling  at  one  time  served  as  township  assessor.  Fraternally, 
he  is  an  Odd  Fellew. 

Professor  Samuel  P.  Axline,  a man  of  broad  culture  and  high 
mental  attainments,  has  the  distinction  of  being,  in  point  of  service, 
one  of  the  oldest  members  of  the  faculty  of  the  Ohio  Northern  University, 
with  which  he  has  been  connected  for  twenty-seven  years,  for  the  past 
twenty-two  years  having  been  dean  of  its  law  department.  A son  of  the 
Rev.  P.  H.  Axline,  he  was  born,  March  31,  1849,  in  Muskingum  county, 
Ohio. 

Born  and  reared  in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  P.  H.  Axline  became 

Vol.  11—29 


894 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


widely  known  throughout  many  parts  of  the  state  as  an  active  teacher 
and  preacher  in  the  Christian  church.  He  spent  a full  half  century  of 
his  three  score  and  ten  years  of  earthly  life  in  his  religious  work,  at  one 
time  being  located  in  Hardin  county.  He  was  of  German  ancestry  on 
the  paternal  side,  and  inherited  to  a marked  degree  the  tireless  industry 
and  sturdy  integrity  of  his  forefathers.  He  married  Eleanor  Lyle,  of 
Muskingum  county,  the  daughter  of  a pioneer  settler,  and  she,  too,  at- 
tained the  age  of  seventy  years.  Of  their  seven  children,  four  sons 
and  three  daughters,  all  grew  to  years  of  maturity  and  five  are  now  liv- 
ing, Samuel  P.  being  the  fourth  child  and  third  son. 

Being  fitted  for  a teacher  in  the  public  schools,  Samuel  P.  Axline 
taught  in  Licking  county  for  a time,  beginning  when  sixteen  years  of 
age,  and  afterwards  learned  the  potter’s  trade,  which  he  followed  seven 
years.  About  1876  he  began  reading  law  in  Missouri,  afterwards  con- 
tinuing its  study  in  Illinois  and  completing  his  law  studies  in  Kentucky. 
For  nearly  fourteen  years  he  was  engaged  in  newspaper  work,  being 
located  in  Illinois,  Kentucky  and  Ohio.  Coming  to  Ada  in  1882,  Mr. 
Axline  taught  for  five  years  in  the  Ohio  Northern  University,  and  then 
assumed  his  present  position  in  its  law  department,  of  which  he  has  been 
clean  for  the  past  twenty-two  years,  as  above  stated.  The  Professor  is 
a close  student,  and  has  received  the  degrees  of  LL.  D.,  LL.  B.  and  of  A. 
M.,  to  all  of  which  he  is  justly  entitled  on  account  of  his  superior 
scholarship.  Politically  he  is  active  in  the  ranks  of  the  Republican 
party,  and  fraternally  he  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  to  the 
Woodmen  of  the  World. 

Professor  Axline  was  united  in  marriage  with  Ellen  F.  Monroe, 
a daughter  of  James  and  Sarah  Monroe,  of  Portage  county,  Ohio.  They 
have  no  children  living. 

John  Lace  Collins,  one  of  the  most  prominent  farmers  of  Taylor 
Creek  township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  of 
his  parents  March  21,  1846.  He  is  a son  of  James  and  Elizabeth 
(Hillinger)  Collins,  the  former  of  whom  died  in  1861  and  the  latter  in 
March,  1889.  The  children  of  James  Collins  and  his  wife  were  as 
follows:  John  L. ; Thomas  Taylor,  a farmer  of  Missouri;  Mary,  widow 
of  Andrew  Sitron ; Sally,  wife  of  John  Refer,  a farmer;  and  Eliza,  wife 
of  Clark  Ansley.  Mr.  Collins  moved  to  Hardin  county  with  his 
brother  and  widowed  mother  in  1828  and  purchased  land.  This  land 
was  afterward  owned  by  Ira  C.  Richards.  Mr.  Collins  died  April  26, 
1861,  at  the  age  of  fifty-two  years. 

John  L.  Collins  received  a good  common-school  education,  and  as 
his  father  died  when  he  was  a young  man  he  became  the  mainstay  of  the 
family,  taking  great  responsibilities  on  bis  young  shoulders.  His  older 
brother  enlisted  and  served  some  time  in  the  Union  army,  leaving  John 
in  charge  of  affairs  at  home.  He  remained  with  his  mother  and  the 
rest  of  the  family  until  he  was  thirty  years  of  age  and  then  married  and 
located  on  a neighboring  farm.  A year  later  he  returned  to  the  home 
farm,  where  he  has  lived  ever  since.  There  are  one  hundred  and  fifty 
acres  of  land  in  the  farm,  and  the  handsome  house  built  in  1905  is  one 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


895 


of  the  most  modern  and  comfortable  in  the  county.  The  old  frame 
house  has  been  moved  to  the  rear  of  the  new  one.  Mr.  Collins  has 
made  all  possible  improvements  on  the  farm  and  keeps  everything  in 
first-class  condition.  He  is  a man  of  more  than  usual  intelligence  and 
ability,  and  has  been  very  successful  in  his  operations.  He  makes  a 
specialty  of  stock  raising,  though  since  1902  he  has  been  practically 
retired  from  active  life. 

Mr.  Collins  married  Alice  Chamberlin,  who  died  in  1889,  at  the  age 
of  thirty-six  years.  She  was  born  in  Buck  township,  and  was  a daugh- 
ter of  Cornelius  and  Katie  (Quinn)  Chamberlin,  the  former  of  whom 
died  in  1898.  Cornelius  Chamberlin  was  born  in  the  state  of  New  York 
on  March  30,  1825,  and  was  a son  of  David  and  Hannah  (Bridge) 
Chamberlin.  His  grandfather  was  an  officer  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 
David  Chamberlin  and  his  wife  settled  in  Taylor  Creek  township, 
Hardin  county,  in  1837 ; they  purchased  two  hundred  acres  of  land,  but 
lost  it  on  account  of  the  invalidity  of  their  title.  He  died  in  November, 
1838,  and  his  widow  died  in  May,  1865.  Cornelius  Chamberlin  was 
married  in  1846  to  Catherine  Irwin,  who  was  born  October  20,  1828,  a 
daughter  of  Michael  and  Mary  Irwin.  Cornelius  Chamberlin  enlisted 
in  1864  in  Company  B,  One  Hundred  and  Eighty-second  Ohio  Volunteer 
Infantry,  under  General  Thomas.  Mr.  Chamberlin  and  his  wife  had 
children  as  follows:  Clary,  wife  of  Wilk  Brisban ; William,  a merchant 
of  Kenton;  Charles,  a laborer  of  Kenton;  Douglas,  of  Kenton;  Martin, 
also  of  Kenton;  John,  a farmer;  Harry,  a farmer;  and  Alice,  who  became 
Mrs.  Collins.  Mrs.  Collins  was  a member  of  the  Methodist  church. 

To  Mr.  Collins  and  his  wife  were  born  children  as  follows : Myrtle, 
born  in  1874,  married  Lewis  Fisher,  who  manages  Mr.  Collins’  farm,  and 
they  have  had  three  children,  Alonzo  (sixteen),  Ella  (fifteen),  and  Clara 
(seven),  besides  Bryan,  deceased;  Clare,  born  in  1876,  married  Oscar 
Robinson,  a merchant,  and  they  have  one  child,  Ona;  James,  now  twenty- 
six  years  of  age;  and  Roy,  aged  twenty.  All  these  children  have  re- 
ceived a fair  education  and  are  a credit  to  their  parents. 

Manley  Allen  Deerwester,  prominent  stock  breeder  of  Taylor 
Creek  township,  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  was  born  on  the  farm  he  now 
occupies  January  3,  1876.  He  is  well  known  for  the  full-blood  Poland 
China  hogs  he  has  bred,  and  in  this  connection  is  recognized  all  over 
the  state  as  one  of  its  most  enterprising  stock  dealers.  Mr.  Deerwester 
is  a son  of  John  and  Sarah  Jane  (Gardner)  Deerwester.  John  Deer- 
wester was  a son  of  George  Deerwester,  a native  of  the  state  of  New  York, 
born  October  7,  1815.  He  married  on  March  8,  1842,  Rebecca  Lewis, 
who  was  born  June  17,  1825,  in  Delaware.  George  Deerwester  moved 
with  his  family  to  Hamilton  county,  during  its  early  history,  where  he 
followed  farming  for  some  years.  His  grandson  relates  that  at  first  a 
blanket  served  as  a door  to  his  cabin,  and  one  day,  when  the  father  was 
away  from  home  a bear  entered  the  home ; the  mother  was  much  fright- 
ened and  rushed  to  the  loft  with  her  children,  but  the  bear  soon  disap- 
peared. About  1850  George  Deerwester  located  in  Logan  county,  re- 
maining there  until  1877,  when  he  settled  in  Paulding  county,  where 


896 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


the  remainder  of  his  life  was  spent.  His  widow  survived  until  1908, 
when  she  passed  away,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years. 

John  Deerwester  was  born  in  Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  October  17, 
1843.  He  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools,  and  when  old 
enough  began  to  assist  with  the  work  on  his  father’s  farm.  He  received 
a good  education  and  made  the  most  of  his  opportunities  to  acquire 
learning  and  culture.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in  Company  D,  Thirteenth 
Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served  three  years  in  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac.  At  the  battle  of  Stone  River  the  flag  became  entangled  in 
some  bushes,  and  in  trying  to  recover  it  Mr.  Deerwester  was  wounded  in 
the  thigh  and  shoulder,  being  hurt  twice  in  this  one  engagement.  During 
another  engagement  he  received  a saber  thrust  and  was  carried  off  the 
field  on  the  very  cold  New  Year  Day  of  1862,  by  his  friend  and  comrade, 
Manuel  Dunson.  He  was  truly  grateful  to  his  friend,  and  promised  to 
name  his  first  son  for  Mr.  Dunson,  this  first  son  being  Manley  Deerwester, 
whose  name  heads  this  sketch. 

After  being  mustered  out  of  service,  John  Deerwester  returned  to 
Ohio  and  began  the  study  of  medicine  in  Dayton.  Later  he  located  in 
Taylor  township,  Hardin  county,  where  he  bought  a farm  of  sixty-one 
acres  on  the  old  Sandusky  road.  Ills  neighbors  here  were  the  Corwins 
and  the  Vassars.  Mr.  Deerwester  became  known  as  the  most  extensive 
breeder  of  fine  hogs  in  his  section  of  the  state,  beginning  the  enterprise 
in  1878.  He  was  the  originator  of  the  famous  “Tom  Corwin”  herd  of 
Poland  China  hogs,  which  enterprise  is  now  carried  on  by  his  son.  He 
was  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  also  belonged  to 
the  G.  A.  R.  Post  at  Kenton ; to  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
of  Ridgeway;  and  to  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle,  Castle  No.  62, 
of  Big  Spring,  Ohio.  Politically  he  was  a Democrat  and  served  as 
justice  of  the  peace  for  two  terms. 

On  October  24,  1867,  John  Deerwester  married  Sarah  Jane  Gardner, 
a daughter  of  Freeman  Gardner,  who  died  in  1909,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
five  years.  Mr.  Gardner,  who  was  a native  of  Pennsylvania,  became 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  and  married  Joan  Jennings, 
who  survives  him  and  has  now  reached  the  age  of  eighty-four  years. 
Their  daughter,  Sarah  Jane,  was  born  July  30,  1847,  and  died  September 
22,  1903.  Mr.  Deerwester  died  December  18,  1903.  He  and  his  wife 
had  children  as  follows : Manley  A. ; Minnie,  wife  of  William  Hisel,  of 
Taylor  Creek  township;  Eva,  wife  of  Dennis  lams,  of  Union  county; 
Carrie,  wife  of  Charles  Titus,  of  Logan  county;  Laura,  wife  of  Harley 
Corwin,  of  Hardin  county;  Adda,  wife  of  Charles  Basley,  of  Logan 
county ; Lizzie,  wife  of  Roy  McKinley,  of  Logan  county. 

After  receiving  a fair  education  in  the  district  school  Manley  A. 
Deerwester  turned  his  attention  to  farming  and  stock  raising,  and  has 
followed  these  industries  with  unusual  success  ever  since.  After  the 
death  of  his  parents  he  purchased  the  shares  of  the  other  heirs  and  now 
has  one  of  the  most  modern  and  comfortable  homes  in  Hardin  county. 
He  has  one  hundred  and  eight  acres  of  land,  on  which  all  improvements 
have  been  made.  The  old  log  house  is  still  standing  and  is  in  a good 
state  of  preservation.  Mr.  Deerwester  conducts  two  sales  each  year, 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


897 


in  October  and  February,  of  high  bred  Poland  China  bogs.  These 
sales  are  patronized  by  people  from  all  over  the  state  and  from  other 
states,  and  are  doing  a large  part  towards  raising  the  standard  of 
breeds  in  Ohio.  Mr.  Deerwester ’s  renowned  hog  known  as  ‘ ‘ Impudent  ’ ’ 
is  a son  of  the  highest  priced  hog  in  the  world  and  weighs  seven  hundred 
pounds.  Another.  “Gabriel’s  Perfection.”  is  a double  Ohio  State  fair 
winner.  “Majestic  Perfection”  weighs  nine  hundred  pounds.  Mr. 
Deerwester  is  very  successful  in  this  enterprise  and  is  known  as  one  of 
the  leaders  in  his  line.  In  the  year  of  1908  he  was  elected  state  vice 
president  of  the  National  Poland  China  Record  Company  of  Ohio,  and 
has  lately  been  elected  one  of  the  directors  of  the  American  Poland 
China  Record  Company  of  Chicago. 

In  1898  Mr.  Deerwester  married  Mary  Bell  Baker,  of  Buck  town- 
ship, Hardin  county,  a daughter  of  Emanuel  and  Anna  (Born)  Baker. 
Emanuel  Baker  and  his  wife  are  now  living  retired  from  active  life  in 
Kenton,  Ohio ; both  are  sixty-seven  years  of  age,  his  birth  occurring  on 
24th  of  October  and  hers  on  the  16th  of  March.  He  is  a son  of  George 
and  Mary  Kahler  Baker,  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  Mrs.  Baker  is  a 
native  of  Berne,  Switzerland,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Amelia  (Miller) 
Born,  and  she  came  with  her  parents  to  America  at  the  age  of  nine  years 
and  spent  her  ninth  birthday  on  the  ocean.  Besides  Mrs.  Deerwester, 
Mr.  Baker  and  his  wife  had  three  other  daughters,  namely:  Adda,  wife 
of  Silas  Hatcher,  of  DeGraf,  Ohio;  Grace,  widow  of  Ralph  Stittsworth; 
and  Elida,  widow  of  Philip  Strahm.  A son,  Willie,  is  deceased.  Mr. 
Baker  enlisted  in  1861  for  three  years’  service  in  the  Civil  war.  He 
enlisted  from  West  Liberty,  Ohio,  and  served  the  entire  time,  receiving 
his  discharge  in  1865.  Mr.  Deerwester  and  his  wife  have  children  as 
follows:  Anna  B.,  born  May  12,  1900;  Gertrude  Rachel,  born  October 
8,  1902 ; Thelma  Grace,  born  February  28,  1904 ; Oran  Gardner,  born 
May  21,  1905;  and  AYilbert  Allen,  born  April  29,  1907. 

Mr.  Deerwester  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle  and  to 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  at  Big  Springs,  Ohio.  Politically 
he  is  a Democrat  and  an  active  worker  in  the  interests  of  his  party.  He 
has  been  twice  elected  to  the  office  of  township  clerk,  receiving  his 
second  election  in  1909,  and  is  thus  the  present  incumbent  of  the  office. 

Benjamin  F.  Cessna,  M.  D.,  a retired  physician  of  Kenton,  Ohio, 
has  been  identified  with  Hardin  county  since  he  was  seven  years  old, 
and  his  useful  life  has  made  its  impression  here. 

Dr.  Cessna  was  born  in  Cumberland  Valley,  near  Bedford  Springs. 
Pennsylvania,  January  27,  1826.  His  father  and  grandfather,  both 
named  Jonathan  Cessna,  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  his  father  having 
been  born  near  Bedford  Springs  April  1,  1789.  The  latter  came  with 
his  family  to  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  in  1833,  landing  here  on  the  third  of 
May,  and  here  he  spent  the  rest  of  his  life,  and  died  at  the  age  of 
eighty  years.  He  was  an  influential  man  in  the  pioneer  community. 
For  twelve  years  he  served  as  associate  judge. 

Benjamin  Cessna  grew  up  with  the  energies  and  ambitions  of  the 
great  West  and  soon  mastered  the  learning  of  the  local  schools  within 


898 


HISTORY  OF  HARDIN  COUNTY 


his  reach.  Like  many  another  young  American  he  then  became  a school 
master ; but  his  thirst  for  knowledge  was  not  yet  satisfied.  In  1846  he 
entered  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  University  from  which  he  was  later  gradu- 
ated and  later  still  received  Master’s  degree.  He  completed  a medical 
course  in  the  University  of  Michigan,  receiving  his  diploma  in  1852. 
After  six  years  of  successful  practice  the  young  physician  entered  the 
Jefferson  Medical  School  at  Philadelphia  and  received  his  degree  from 
that  institution  in  1858. 

In  1855  Dr.  Cessna  began  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Van  Wert, 
Ohio,  and  with  the  exception  of  the  time  spent  in  professional  study, 
he  continued  his  professional  career  in  Van  Wert  until  1876. 

In  his  profession  and  also  in  his  investments  he  was  successful, 
the  passing  years  bringing  him  as  a result  of  his  well  directed  efforts 
not  only  comfort  and  plenty  but  also  a competency  from  which  he 
has  drawn  liberally  and  from  time  to  time  has  made  gifts  to  numerous 
worthy  causes.  He  was  elected  a trustee  of  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  Uni- 
versity. He  has  deeded  to  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  University  property 
sufficient  to  provide  for  a professorship.  The  income  of  the  property 
goes  to  the  University  and  provides  for  the  perpetual  maintenance  of  a 
chair  of  English  language  and  literature,  which  bears  his  name  in  the 
college.  Dr.  Cessna  is  the  second  graduate  of  the  college  thus  to 
provide  for  the  endowment  of  a chair.  Also  he  has  given  much  to 
various  charities.  On  retiring  from  the  practice  of  medicine  in  1876, 
he  came  to  Kenton,  conducting  his  farms  near  this  city,  where  he  has 
since  made  his  home.  In  the  meantime  he  has  traveled  extensively.  In 
1884  he  toured  Europe  and  in  1902  he  went  to  Palestine  and  visited 
the  different  countries  on  the  Mediterranean  sea.  Dr.  Cessna  was  in 
Egypt  and  went  up  the  Nile.  He  also  visited  Greece. 

Dr.  Cessna  has  been  twice  married,  first  in  1853,  and  again  in  1876. 
By  his  first  marriage  Dr.  Cessna  had  two  daughters,  Ida  and  Kate. 
The  former  died  some  years  ago  in  Buffalo,  New  York,  and  the  latter  is 
at  present  living  in  Nebraska.  By  his  second  marriage  he  had  one 
daughter,  Marion,  who  died  a few  years  ago  in  Milan,  Italy,  where  she 
had  gone  to  study  music.  At  present  Dr.  Cessna  is  a widower.  He 
is  a Royal  Arch  Mason  and  a member  of  the  Alumni  Association  of  the 
University  of  Michigan. 


I 


. 


/ 


